Shelter Island Reporter obituaries: D’Alessandro-Coelho, Mason
NIDIA D’ALESSANDRO-COELHO
Nidia D’Alessandro-Coelho, a beloved Shelter Island artist known for her vibrant spirit, warmth, and deep appreciation for nature and community, passed away peacefully on March 30, 2026, at San Simeon by the Sound. She was 88 years old.
Born on Oct. 3, 1937, in Campinas, Brazil, Nidia was the daughter of Domenic D’Alessandro and Maria Luiza DiTuccio.
She shared her life and artistic journey with her late husband, sculptor Luiz Coelho, whom she married in 1959. Their partnership — both in life and art — spanned decades and was marked by a deep and enduring bond. The couple eventually made their way to New York and, in 1970, came to Shelter Island for a visit and never left, building a home, studio, and life together in the community they loved.
Encouraged by her husband, Nidia began painting and developed a distinctive artistic voice of her own. Her work — often inspired by local homes, gardens, and landscapes — captured the character and beauty of Shelter Island and the surrounding East End. She completed numerous commissioned works, including a poster celebrating Shelter Island’s 350th anniversary that was proudly displayed for many years at the former Capital One Bank and at the Shelter Island Police Department. The piece is now held by the Shelter Island Historical Society.
Nidia was also known for her generosity within the Shelter Island community, often sharing her artwork with local organizations and institutions. Her work can still be seen today at the Center Post Office and at Our Lady of the Isle parish office, alongside pieces created by her husband, Luiz.
Known for her cheerful personality and love of people, Nidia brought the same energy to her life, which she expressed through her art. Friends and visitors to her home often remarked on the warmth she created — both through her work and her welcoming spirit.
Beyond her art, she enjoyed gardening, time outdoors, and the many friendships she built over the years. Shelter Island was not simply where she lived, it was the place that inspired her work and where she felt most at home.
Nidia was predeceased by her husband, Luiz Coelho, in 2006. She had no immediate surviving family.
She will be cremated and laid to rest with her husband at a future date.
Nidia will be remembered for her kindness, her creative spirit, and the lasting impression she left on the Shelter Island community.
The Shelter Island Funeral Home is assisting the family.
COLETTE JEANNE MASON
Colette Mason, a woman of grace, practical wisdom, and a lifelong love for the sea, passed away peacefully on March 22, 2026, at her home in Peconic Landing, Greenport. She was 91.
Born in Geneva, Switzerland, on Dec. 28, 1934, Colette’s adventurous spirit was evident early on. At the age of 23, eager to master the English language, she moved to the United States. While working on Wall Street, she met the love of her life, Francis Mason. The two were married for nearly 60 years until his passing in 2017.
In the early 1960s, a summer rental on Shelter Island led to a lifelong love affair with the Island community. Soon after their first visit, Colette and Francis bought a home on Sunshine Road. They eventually became full-time residents, building a Colette-inspired dream house on West Neck Creek, where she was able to fully pursue her passions.
Whether sailing her Doughdish, Coquille, from the Shelter Island Yacht Club, or later her Nonsuch, Chat Eau, from its West Neck Creek mooring in front of their house, she found her greatest peace on the water. She often said there was “nothing like the feeling of the silent power of the wind.”
In 2003, Colette and Francis moved to a charming home surrounded by farms near Warrenton, Va., to be closer to their daughter Claire and her family. Colette cherished her 17 years in the Virginia countryside, painting in her dedicated sunlit studio and cultivating a new community of friends, but her heart eventually pulled her back north. In 2020, she moved to Peconic Landing to be near the familiar waters of the East End.
A woman of many talents, Colette was a painter, classical pianist, accomplished cook, creative writer, and ace Scrabble player, among many other gifts. She traveled the world but always found her way back to the familial haven of Shelter Island. Her practical wisdom and love for life will be carried on by the generations she adored and who adored her.
Colette is survived by her three children, Catherine Grigioni (Carlo); Claire Lubowsky (Yakir); and Patrick Mason (Kristin); six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Her legacy lives on in her family’s shared love for one another and for the sea.
