Dorothy I. (Jennings) Bibbo

Dorothy Inez (Jennings) Bibbo, 96, passed away peacefully on July 1, 2025, at her home in Georgetown, Massachusetts, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’ s Disease. Dot was a generous, compassionate woman who made both friends and strangers feel welcome and comfortable. Her love and devotion to her family and her faith were her essence.

Born on October 31, 1928, in Boston to Emma Forrest, Dot always loved being a Halloween baby and jokingly called herself “a good witch”. She had a loving but difficult childhood, moving often between Sharon, Stoughton, Hyde Park, and Jamaica Plain. Still, her mother (along with her aunt, uncle and cousins) instilled in her the love of family, laughter, and the importance of resilience and faith. Dot loved to rejoice in the little things in life and saw the beauty in nature all around her..

While art and antiques were her lifelong passions, her mother persuaded her to take business classes following her graduation from Sharon High School in the late 1940s. She moved to Boston and worked at the Watertown Arsenal and Allis-Chalmers. It was there that she met the love of her life, her strong WWII Marine veteran and husband of 61 years, Pasquale (Pat) Bibbo. Family was always so important to her, and she enjoyed being welcomed into a big Italian clan in Newton, where she expanded her love of cooking by mastering the best spaghetti and meatballs (Nana approved), acting as the favorite taste tester of her father-in-law's homemade wine, and learning that in-laws make great brothers and sisters.

Along came her first-born son Bob and soon the family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where both Dot and Pat worked for GE and developed some of their closest friendships. Several years later, they returned to New England, moved to Lynnfield and worked at GE Riverworks in Lynn. After their daughter Ruth was born, Dot focused her love and energy on family and community – leading campfire girls and school outings, teaching CCD, and setting up big neighborhood street parties. She also returned to her artistic life, promoting local artists and delving into the world of antiques – which would become her lifelong career..

The Bibbo's moved to Exeter, N.H. in 1970, where Dot opened her own antique business, String Bridge Antiques. Her antique career would take her to multiple group shops in Exeter and the seacoast area. She shone brightly in this work, developed wonderful and lasting friendships, and always seemed to appear twenty years younger. She developed an affinity for antique buttons, occasionally covering the family dining room table with thousands of buttons to be appraised for a local auctioneer.  She became affectionately known in her circle of dealers as “The Button Lady,” and her button displays were true works of art.​

Dot was a wonderful mother who happily welcomed her son-in-law Tom and his family into her arms. She was over-the-top thrilled to become Grandma Bibbo to her two grandsons, Chris and Dan. They were her pride and joy, and she loved being a part of their early years, playing board games, attending countless school events and activities, viewing their photo adventures, and listening to music they shared with her. This special bond grew to include Dan’ s wife Janine and Chris’ children, who affectionately called her GGB. Dot loved to travel weekend trips to local B&Bs, and Marines reunions around the country with Pat. At home, she loved sitting outside, taking in the beauty of gardens and listening to the birds and jazz. She was an avid reader who always had a new book in hand, zipping through a novel over a couple of sittings. Her love of books – mysteries, historical fiction (Abraham Lincoln especially), spirituality, and the natural world – was apparent by the many bookshelves in each room and her well-used library card.

After a long and full life, she continued to express how grateful she was to have had so many wonderful family and close friends, as well as compassionate caregivers in the end. She truly appreciated all that life gave her and she will be dearly missed by family, friends, and all who had the chance to meet her. Left to remember Dorothy’ s beautiful spirit are her daughter, Ruth (Bibbo) Shores and her husband Thomas Shores of Georgetown, MA, her grandsons Christopher Shores and his partner Rebecca Jacoby of Arlington, MA, and Daniel Shores and his wife Janine Ledet of Ramsgate Beach, NSW, Australia, her great-grandchildren Julia and Matthew of Arlington, MA; sister-in-law Enzanetta Bibbo of CA; as well as many loving nieces and nephews, cousins, and extended family .

Dot was preceded in death by her mother, Emma Forrest Jennings, her husband, Pasquale Bibbo; her son, Robert Bibbo; her brothers-in-law: Joseph Bibbo, John Bibbo and Elmer Kiley; her sisters-in-law: Lucy Kiley, Ann Bibbo, and Marianna (Ann) Bibbo; and many beloved aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are kindly invited to attend Dorothy's visitation on Sunday, August 3rd from 1 to 4pm in the Conte - Giamberardino Funeral Home, 14 Pleasant Street, Georgetown and again for her Funeral Mass on Monday morning, August 4th at 11 o'clock at St. Mary's Parish, 94 Andover Street, Georgetown. Interment at the Calvary Cemetery, Waltham. For those who wish, Dorothy may be remembered through Memorial donations to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’ s Research, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Care Dimensions Hospice, or a charity of your choice. For funeral home directions, florists or to share memories of Dorothy with her family, please visit www.cgfuneralhomegeorgetown.com

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