SARASOTA, FL - Prudence P. “Prudy” (Femino) Bottino, 81, of Sarasota, FL passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 27, 2024, in Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota, FL with her son Michael by her side. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 49 years, James David Bottino Sr. She was the daughter of the late Peter Femino and Frances (Centauro) Femino.

Prudy was born in New Haven, CT.  and was blessed to grow up in the town of Belmont, MA where her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins also lived. She also had the joy of gaining lifelong friends there as well.  At the age of 20 she married the love of her life, James "Dave" Bottino at St. Luke's Church in Belmont on October 6, 1962. Shortly after, they moved to Neuremberg, Germany due to Dave's military service where she volunteered at the USO and taught pre-school on base. They moved back to Belmont in 1965 to raise their family.

One of Prudy's greatest gifts was her love of educating children with special needs. She began this journey while having a home day care for several years. In 1977 this led her to taking classes at Wheelock College to attain her Special Needs Assistant Teacher's Certificate and with this certification she helped many children at the Daniel Butler Elementary School as a Special Needs Assistant Teacher for several years. She was also very civically active having volunteered for many activities in Belmont including being a Girl Scout Secretary and PTA President.

In 1981 the family moved to Plymouth, MA. She took her love for educating children with her and quickly got a teaching position at James F. Peebles Elementary School in Bourne, MA. There she taught, nurtured, and loved special needs children for 21 years; many of whom have remembered her over the years. On February 13, 2003, she received a special recognition certificate from Massachusetts Speaker of the House Thomas Finneran for her years of dedicated service to the special needs children of Bourne Public Schools.

Upon retiring, she and Dave made many trips around the country in their RV. She loved traveling and gained many more happy memories meeting so many people and seeing beautiful sites.

In her last years, she enjoyed the time she spent in Nokomis, FL and belonged to the Sarasota Women's Club. She was active in many of the events her community had to offer and made new friends with her outgoing nature and big, beautiful smile.

Prudy is survived by her much-loved children, James David Bottino, Jr. (Letitia) of Wareham, MA, Michael P. Bottino of Mashpee, MA, and Dawnmarie F. Knight (Randy), of Grafton, MA; her brothers Salvatore Femino of Marlboro, MA, and Eugene Femino of Wareham, MA. She also leaves her beautiful progeny; 9 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at Chapman Funerals & Cremations – Wareham, 2599 Cranberry Hwy. (Rt. 28), Wareham from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Patrick's Church, High St., Wareham at 11:30 a.m.  Interment will be in Mass. National Cemetery, Bourne.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Best Buddies International on-line at https://www.bestbuddies.org/mari/donate/ OR United Ostomy Association, P.O. Box 2293, Biddeford, ME 04005-2293 or on-line at https://www.ostomy.org/donate/

For directions or to leave a message of condolence visit: www.chapmanfuneral.com