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Fernand J. Bernier
Shop foreman for Fairhaven Corp, Army veteran, scout leader
Fernand J. Bernier, 72, of Westport, died Monday, Oct. 4, 2004, at home. He was the former husband of Jeanne (Mellen) Bernier.
Born in Fall River, he was the son of the late Wilfred and Melvina (Sampson) Bernier. He had lived in Westport for the past 39 years.
Mr. Bernier was employed as a shop foreman for Fairhaven Corp. in New Bedford until his retirement.
He was an Army veteran, serving during the Korean war.
Mr. Bernier was a communicant of Our Lady of Grace Church. He was a member of the St. Vincent DePaul Society, the Couples Club and the Senior Citizens Club.
Mr. Bernier was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and a Boy Scout leader with the Troop 100 Moby Dick Council in Westport.
Besides his former wife, he leaves a son, Michael Bernier of Westport; two daughters, Colette Costa of East Freetown and Nancy Slean of Fall River; a brother, Rene Bernier of Kentucky; six sisters, Jeannette Levesque of Fall River, Claire Bedard of Tiverton, Cecile Fontaine of Westport, Bernadette Richard of Maryland, Rita Michaud of Connecticut and Pauline Bernier of Franklin; 10 grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was the brother of the late Lucien, Gerard, Roger and Normand Bernier.
A funeral to which friends and relatives were invited was held on Wednesday morning, Oct. 6, from South Coast Funeral Home in Fall River. It was followed by a Mass at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Grace Church on Sanford Road in Westport. Interment was in Newport Memorial Park, Middletown, R.I.
Robert B. Leary
Retired math teacher, school bus driver
Robert B. Leary, 65, of Assonet died on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2004, at home after a brief illness. He was the husband of Ruth K. (Reach) Leary to whom he had been married for 27 years.
Born in Fall River, the only child of the late Francis B. and Dorothy (Roberts) Leary, he had lived in Assonet for the past 26 years.
Mr. Leary had been a school bus driver for the Laidlaw Bus Company out of Westport, Freetown and Lakeville for the past six years. He previously taught math in the Rehoboth public school system and then worked for many years as a salesman for Goodyear until his retirement. After retirement, he earned his CDI license which enabled him to become a school bus driver, a job he enjoyed immensely.
He received his associates degree from Roger Williams College and in 1966 graduated from Bryant College with a bachelor's degree in business administration.
He attended the United Parish of Fall River, was a former member of the Freetown Finance Committee, and enjoyed spending time with family and friends here and in Naples, Fla., where he and his wife spent the last six winters.
In addition to his wife he leaves two sons, Patrick M. Leary of Seattle, Wash., and Eric R. Earle of Leesburg, Va.; a daughter, Kristin Wilkinson of Westport; and three grandchildren, Katie and Emma Wilkinson and Fiona Earle.
A celebration of his life will he held on Saturday, Oct. 16, at noon in the United Parish of Fall River, 745 Wilson Road, Fall River.
Genevieve MacMurray
Retired licensed practical nurse
Genevieve (Zeilinski) MacMurray, 73, of Westport, died Sunday, Oct. 3, 2004 at Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River, after a brief illness. She was the wife of Earle C. MacMurray.
Born in New Bedford, a daughter of the late Joseph and Anna (Kubiac) Zeilinski, she grew up there until moving to Fall River in 1958, and lived there for many years prior to moving to Westport.
Mrs. MacMurray was a licensed practical nurse for Fall River Nursing Home and Clifton Rehabilitative Nursing Center in Somerset until retiring. She was a member of the New England Healthcare Employees Union #1099.
She enjoyed gardening, sewing, reading and using the computer.
Including her husband, she leaves a daughter, Joan Drewniak of Fall River; a sister, Gladys Couto of New Bedford; and several nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Stanley Zeilinski.
Services will be private. Arrangements are by the Potter Funeral Home, Westport.
Geri R. Jodat
Waitress at local restaurants,
leaves family in Rumford
Geri R. Jodat, 52, of Washburn Avenue, died Monday, Oct. 4, 2004, in Miriam Hospital, Providence. She was the wife of Paul A. Jodat.
Born in Fall river, a daughter of the late Charles and Yvonne (Parent) DuPont, she was a waitress at Ceba's Diner and the former Mama Julia's restaurant, both in East Providence.
Besides her husband, she leaves two daughters, Jennifer Y. and Melissa M. Jodat, both of Rumford.
A funeral was held Thursday, Oct. 7, from the Perry/McStay Funeral Home, with a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Martha's Church, Pawtucket Avenue. Burial was in Rumford Cemetery, Rumford.
Dolores A. Crispo
Head nurse at former Truesdale Hospital
Dolores A. "Del" Crispo, 92, of Touisset Road, died Sunday, Oct. 3, 2004, at the Grace Barker Nursing Center. She was the wife of the late Charles E. Crispo.
Born in Fall River, she was a daughter of the late Henry N. Cote and the late Margaret V. (Ward) Cote.
A 1930 graduate of Durfee High School, she was a 1932 graduate of the former Truesdale Hospital School of Nursing.
A registered nurse, Mrs. Crispo did private duty nursing at the former Truesdale Hospital in Fall River from 1932 to 1939. She was a member of the American Red Cross from 1940 to 1945 where she taught Home Nursing in the Fall River area for many years. She was also a member of the Warren District Nursing Association staff. From 1952 until 1979 she was head nurse at Truesdale Hospital.
Mrs. Crispo was a member of the Truesdale Hospital Nurses Alumni Association, later known as the Truesdale-Union Employees Association, and the Charlton Memorial Retirees Association.
She was the recipient of the Lex King Souter Humanitarian Award. She was a communicant of St. Dominic Church.
She leaves a daughter, Marie C. Boyle of Warren; a granddaughter, Rose Anne Boyle of East Providence; and a niece, Claire Marie Stewart.
Her funeral is Thursday, Oct. 7, at 10 a.m., from the Waring-Sullivan Home of Memorial Tribute at "Birchcrest," 189 Gardner's Neck Road, Swansea (North of Route 6 intersection), followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. in St. Dominic Church, 1277 GAR Highway, Swansea. She will be buried in Notre Dame Cemetery, Fall River.
Visiting hours are today, Wednesday, Oct. 6, from 4 to 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Truesdale Hospital Nurse's Assn. Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 9215, Fall River, MA 02720, or the Warren Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 553, Warren, RI 02885.
Helen D. Sheehan
Teacher, principal in Westport
Helen D. "Hi-Ya" (O'Donnell) Sheehan, 94, of the Meadowood Retirement Community in Bloomington, Ind., died Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004, in Bloomington Hospital. She was the wife of the late Thomas G. Sheehan.
Born in Fall River, a daughter of the late James and Mary (Kiley) O'Donnell, she lived in the city all her life until moving to Indiana nine months ago. She attended BMC Durfee High School, and was a graduate of the former Hyannis Normal School.
A retired educator, Mrs. Sheehan had worked in Westport and was one of the youngest principals to serve at the Milton E. Earle Elementary School. She had also been a special education teacher at the Macomber School. She was a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association. She volunteered for many years at the former Rose Hawthorne Lathrop Home.
Mrs. Sheehan was a parishioner of Holy Name Church, and a member of its Women's Club.
She leaves three nieces, Sheila M. O'Donnell Burrello of Bloomington and Janet O'Donnell Coyne and Joyce O'Donnell Pinto, both of Westport; eight grandnieces and grandnephews. She was the sister of the late Thomas and James O'Donnell.
A funeral Mass was celebrated Saturday, Oct. 1 in Holy Name Church. Burial followed in St. Patrick's Cemetery.
Ralph D. Knodel
Leaves son and sister in town
Ralph D. "Chip" Knodel, 41, of 15 Stuart St., died Thursday, Sept. 30, 2004, at the Philip Hulitar Hospice Center in Providence, after a long illness.
Born in Chelsea, Mass., he was the son of Ralph D. Knodel Jr. and Elaine (Etsell) Knodel. He lived in Warren for 12 years, previously living in Tiverton.
Besides his parents, he leaves a son, Brian J. Knodel of Warren; a daughter, Leah R. Knodel of Fairhaven, Mass., a sister, Linda Almas of Warren; a companion, Valerie Vieira of Tiverton; and two nephews. His funeral was private.
Helen Elizabeth Gates
An active voice for social issues
Helen Elizabeth Gates, 91, died Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2004, at a Portland Hospital. She was the wife of the late Dr. Donald Coats Gates.
Born in Menomonie, Wisc., on February 24, 1913, the daughter of Henry Carl and Amelia Beguhn Diedrich, she had lived in Barrington for a number of years.
She graduated from Stout University in Wisc., with a degree in dietary science. Mrs. Gates worked as a hospital dietician prior to marrying.
Mrs. Gates had a great sense of history and was cognizant of the time in world history that she lived. She felt she had lived during the most important historical times in the history of America. The technological advancements starting with the telephone, medical research, and advancing scientific discoveries were appreciated and understood by Mrs. Gates. Social issues were of great concern to Mrs. Gates especially the oppressed and harming of animals for scientific research.
She was very proud of the social causes that her son Thomas Gates championed through being an intern for Senator Claiborne Pell in Washington and marching with Martin Luther King. Via the telephone and writing Mrs. Gates was an advocate for many social issues. Further, she would write and make calls to numerous "shut-ins."
The Gates family has established numerous scholarships to further the educational opportunities of minorities, supported many charities, and provided the University of Maine Foundation with a Memorial Forest in memory of family members Rev. Samuel S. Perley, Dr. Donald Gates and Thomas Gates.
Mrs. Gates is survived by three nieces, Mary (Diedrich) Ludwig and her husband Gregory, Jane Elizabeth Nason, and Susan Ann Raynaud; and three nephews, Richard Gregory, John Thomas and Michael Joseph.
She was the mother of the late Thomas Henry Matthew Gates, who died in 1997.
A memorial service was held at the First Congregational Church of Gray, Maine. Memorial Donations may be made to Gray Fire & Rescue, 125 Shaker Road, Gray, Maine 04039. Arrangements under the care of Wilson Funeral Home, Gray.
Vincent M. Nanni Sr.
WWII veteran founded Vin's Motor Sales in Fall River
Vincent M. Nanni, Sr., of No. Ocean Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Westport died unexpectedly on Friday, Oct. 1, 2004, at Charlton Memorial Hospital after being stricken at his summer residence in Westport. He was the husband of Louise (Alleva) Nanni to whom he had been married for the past 62years.
Born in Montereale, Italy, in the province of Abruzzi, he was the son of the late Antonio Nanni and the late Leonilda (Bianchini) Nanni. He came to the United States in 1924 at the age of 12. He lived in Waterbury, Conn., and Woonsocket, R.I., before moving to Fall River just prior to World War II.
After the war, Mr. Nanni moved to Westport and later Ft. Lauderdale. He summered at 311 Brayton Point Road in Westport for more than 50 years.
With his wife, Mr. Nanni founded and operated Vin's Motor Sales in Fall River, which he remained a part of for 57 years. Prior to that, he worked at the former River Mill in Fall River.
A U.S. Army veteran, Mr. Nanni served in the 39th General Hospital Unit in the South Pacific during World War II.
An avid card player and golfer, he was a member of the Acoaxet Club in Westport Harbor and the Ft. Lauderdale Country Club. He was also a former member of the Fall River Country Club, the Quequechan Club of Fall River and the Lions Club of Westport. In addition, he was a member of the Board of Trustees of the former Fall River Savings Bank, also known as "Old Red Bank," for more than 25 years.
Besides his wife, he also leaves three sons, Anthony V. Vanni of Chevy Chase, Md., and Acoaxet, Louis M. Nanni of Little Compton and Vincent M. Nanni Jr. of Ft. Lauderdale and Little Compton; two daughters, Angela Nanni Scott of New York, N.Y., and Acoaxet and Linda Nanni of Providence; a sister, Elena Mancini of Montereale, Italy; nine grandchildren, Alexander, Michael, Laura and Ellen Nanni, Elizabeth Roddy, Emma and Henry Desjardins and Andrew and Ian Scott; a great grandson, William Roddy; and several nieces and nephews.
His funeral was held Monday, Oct. 4, from the Waring-Sullivan Home of Memorial Tribute at 'Cherry Place' in Fall River. It was followed by a funeral Mass in St. John the Baptist Church in Westport. Burial was in Beech Grove Cemetery.
Angelina Rebello
Homemaker, lived in East
Providence for 64 years
Angelina Rebello, 84, of North Carpenter Street, died Sunday, Oct. 3, 2004, at home. She was the wife of the late Anthony O. Rebello Sr.
Born in Seekonk, a daughter of the late Joseph DaCosta Leiter and Margaret DaSilva (Horta) Leiter, she had lived in Seekonk before settling in East Providence 64 years ago.
Mrs. Rebello leaves two daughters, Sister Catherine Rebello, SSD, of Rome, and Mary Grace of East Providence; three sons, John F. Rebello of East Providence, David Mr. Rebello of Staten Island, N.Y., and Anthony O. Rebello Jr. of Seekonk; three sisters, Mary Mello of Seekonk, Hermina Gouveia of Rehoboth and Margaret Tavares of East Providence; three brothers, Marion D. Leiter of Seekonk, Anthony D. Leiter of East Providence and Augustine D. Leiter of West Warwick; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
She was a sister of the late Manuel D. Leiter, Frank Leiter and Joseph Leitao.
A funeral was held Thursday, Oct. 7, from the Rebello Funeral Home, with a concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial in St. Francis Xavier Church, North Carpenter Street. Burial was in St. Mary Cemetery, Pawtucket.
Nancy Spearel Rudy
Leaves daughter in Barrington
Nancy Spearel Rudy, 76, of Chatham, Mass., died Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004, at her home. She was the wife of the late Dr. Leon C. Rudy. They had been married for 51 years.
She was born on May 15, 1928, in Marlboro, Mass., and grew up in Beaver Falls, N.Y.
At the age of 16, she volunteered as an enemy plan spotter in 1944 with great pride.
Mrs. Rudy attended Syracuse University, then graduated from Temple University in 1950, with a bachelors in speech and dramatic arts.
During the next 20 years, while in the military with her husband, she was busy volunteering for the Red Cross and the Cancer Society, traveling with her family, modeling, performing in local theater productions and being a loving mother.
Mrs. Rudy received the "Best Actress Award" in 1965 from the New England Theatre Conference Play Competition for her role as Katharina in Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew."
In 1970, she and her husband moved to Andover, Mass., where she began a 30-year career in real estate at The Victor Co., and J.B. Doherty and Associates.
In 1989, she and her husband accomplished their dream of moving to Chatham, which had always been their family's favorite vacation spot. There she continued her successful real estate career at Chatham Village Realty. Mrs. Rudy became further involved in the community through The Chatham Drama Guild and volunteering for Hospice and Palliative Care of Cape Cod.
She enjoyed skiing, traveling, boating, theater, paddle tennis, everything about the ocean, long walks, good discussions and heartfelt talks.
She is survived by a son, Jeffrey C. Rudy of Metheun, Mass.; two daughters, Pamela R. McElroy of Barrington and Allyson Rudy of Deephaven, Minn.; a brother, Richard W. Spearel of Monument, Colo.; two sons-in-law; four grandsons; and loving companion Robert F. Zunzer.
A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 16 Cross St., Chatham, Mass., on Saturday, Oct. 30, at 2 p.m. At Mrs. Rudy's request, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, 14 Pennsylvania Plaza, Suite 1400, New York, N.Y. 10122, or The American Heart Association at www.americanheart.org
