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Lillian Joan Reardon
70, of Metacom Manor in Bristol, who died on Wednesday, May 16, at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, worked as a teller for about eight years until her first child was born and then she retired to raise her family. She was a former Middletown resident.
Born in Portsmouth, Mrs. Reardon was the daughter of the late Joseph H. Resendes and Mary (Raposa) Resendes. She was the wife of the late James F. Reardon.
Mrs. Reardon was a member of Jesus Saviour Church on Broadway and a former member of Court Madona Catholic Daughters of America.
She is survived by daughters Mary Jane Wilkinson of Portsmouth, Patricia Ann Polson of Wilton, N.H., sons Sean Fitzgerald Reardon of Newport, James Francis Reardon of Middletown, brothers Raymond Resendes of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Joseph H. Resendes of Kenneth Square, Pa., sister Mary Jane Stewart of Gainsville, Fla., five grandchildren and nieces and nephews. She was also the sister of the late Georginna Sousa.
Her funeral was held on May 19 from the Memorial Funeral Home in Newport with a Mass of Christian Burial at Jesus Saviour Church. Burial was at the family grave at St. Columba Cemetery in Middletown.
Donations may be made in her memory to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Judith Tollefson Dias
Judith Tollefson Dias, 62, of Portsmouth, who died on Sunday, May 20 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, was a former Newport resident and worked as a clerk at the Newport City Hall in the payroll department as well as being a lunch aide for the Newport Public School system at the Sullivan School.
She was the wife of the late Arthur J. Dias. Born in Newport, Mrs. Dias was the daughter of Frederic William Tollefson and Helen Frances (Hotz) Tollefson. She is survived by her son Kevin A. Dias of Middletown, her daughter Susan L. Callahan of Newport, her sister Linda Decotis of Middletown, several nieces and nephews and her companion, George H. Baker, of Portsmouth. She was also the sister of the late Nancy Megee.
Her funeral will be held on Thursday, May 24 at 11 a.m. in the Memorial Funeral Home on 375 Broadway in Newport. The burial will be private.
Memorial donations may be made to The Diabetes Foundation of Rhode Island or to The American Cancer Society Rhode Island Division.
Virginia E. Torres
Virginia E. Torres, 82, of Newport, who died on May 26 at home, was the Medical Records Director at Newport Hospital from 1963 to 1985.
Born in Cuba, she was the daughter of the late Roberto Torres and Herminia (Hernandez) Torres. Miss Torres was a 1949 graduate of the University of Cuba in Havana and a 1951 graduate of Yale University school of public health. She received her Registered Research Librarian certificate in the American Medical Record Association in 1958. She has served as president of the Rhode Island Medical Records Association and chairperson on numerous committees on public education, by laws, legislation and others. From 1951 to 1957 she was the manager of the medical record department and the business office at Tri-County Memorial Hospital in Gowanda, N.Y. From 1957 to 1963 she was the director of ambulatory services at Rhode Island Hospital.
She is survived by two sisters, Olga H. Torres, M.D., of Newport, Susana Torres of Coral Gables, Fla., two brothers, Roberto Torres of Coral Gables, Fla., Raul Torres of Larchmont, N.Y., one niece Maria Teresa Torres of Larchmont, N.Y., and one nephew, Patrick McMorrow of Larchmont, N.Y.
Private funeral services were held on Tuesday, May 29 at the First Presbyterian Church with burial in the Island Cemetery Annex in Newport. Donations may be made to Visiting Nurse Services of Newport and Bristol Counties.
Louise May Sullivan
Louise May (Johansson) Sullivan, 67, of Middletown, who died on May 22 at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton, Mass., worked for the former New England Telephone Company as a service representative for over thirty years, retiring in 1993.
Born in Newport, she was the daughter of the late Nett A. Johansson and Catherine (Sherman) Johansson. She is survived by one sun, Brian P. Sullivan of Newport, one daughter, Colleen A. Sullivan of Warwick, one sister, Grace Johnston of Newport and three grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Saturday, May 26 in St. George’s Episcopal Church in Newport. Donations may be made to the Rhode Island Lung Association.
Doris Freitas
Doris Freitas, 76, of Middletown, who died on Tuesday, May 29, at Newport Hospital, was a member of St. Lucy’s Church in Middletown.
Born in Newport, she was the daughter of the late John Jessey and Grace (Johnston ) Jessey. She was the wife of the late Alfred M. Freitas.
She is survived by two sons, Alfred D. Freitas of Barrington, John Freitas of Newport, two daughters, Christina Machado of Tiverton and Janice Castro of Warwick, a brother, John Jessey of Middletown, sisters Carol Amorouso of Newport and Elsa Jones of Middletown, and one granddaughter, Dillon Castro.
Her funeral will be held Friday, June 1 from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, in Newport at 9:30 a.m. with a Mass of Christian burial at 10:30 a.m. in St. Lucy’s Church, 909 West Main Road in Middletown. Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery in Middletown
Frances Lucy (Halfpenny) Brownell
Frances Lucy (Halfpenny) Brownell, 82, of Middletown, who died on Monday, May 28 at the Heatherwood Nursing and Subacute Center, in Newport, worked as an engineering assistant at the Raytheon Corporation in Portsmouth for 12 years.
Born in Newport, she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Catherine (Gallagher) Halfpenny. She was the wife of Gilbert M. Brownell. Mrs. Brownell was a Communicant of St. Lucy’s Church in Middletown and had served as a Sacristan at Mass.
Besides her husband, she is survived by two sons, Gilbert M. Brownell, Jr. of Middletown, and John E. Brownell of Newport, two daughters, Sandra DelRoss of Tavares, Fla. and Catherine Alvarez of Saunderstown, one sister, Alice Pacheco of Middletown, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 1 at 8 a.m. from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway in Newport followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. in St. Lucy’s Church, 909 West Main Road, Middletown.
Burial will take place in Portsmouth Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the St. Lucy’s Church Building Fund.
Donald T. Gibbs
Donald T. Gibbs, 83, of 163 Riverview Ave, Middletown, who died on May 23 at home, was a retired librarian of Redwood Library and Athenaeum in Newport.
He was the husband of Senator June (Nesbitt) Gibbs. Mr. Gibbs was born March 3, 1918, in Newton, Mass. He was the son of the late Russell C. Gibbs and Edith T. Gibbs. He had lived in Middletown since 1949.
Mr. Gibbs was a graduate of Williams College and Simmons College Library School. He began his career in 1947 as a librarian at the Rochester (N.Y.) Public Library. Two years later, he joined the staff of the Redwood Library as a cataloger and became librarian in 1952. In 1964, he was appointed by Governor Chafee to the Advisory Board of the Department of State Library Services, becoming its chairman in 1969. The work done during this time led to the creation of a statewide network of public, private, and college libraries. In 1975 President Ford appointed Mr. Gibbs to the Advisory Commission responsible for plannning the National Conference for Libraries and Information Services. After 37 years, he reitred in 1988, making him the Redwood’s longest-serving librarian.
Mr. Gibbs served in the U.S. Army in the medical detachment of the 494th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion during World War II, in Iceland, Belgium, and Britain, from 1942 to 1945.
He was active in the United Congregational Church in Middletown, where he had served as deacon, trustee and clerk. He was a member of the Newport Rotary Club.
Besides his wife, he leaves a daughter, Elizabeth Gibbs of Newport and a cousin Marjorie Moerschner of West Newton, Mass.
Donations may be made to Visiting Nurses of Newport and Bristol Counties.
William G. Andrea
79, of Newport, who died on Saturday, June 2 at the Newport Hospital, was the owner and operator of the Boulevard Texaco Gas Station on Memorial Boulevard for 25 years until selling his business in the 1980s.
Born in Newport, Mr. Andrea was the son of the late Jesse and Mary Dias Andrea. Mr. Andrea attended the former DeLaSalle Academy. In his youth, he was a landscaper for many homes in Newport. He was also an avid bowler and a member of the Newport K of C, Council 256.
He was the husband of Beverly A. MacDonald Andrea and the late Muriel Cassidy Andrea. Besides his wife, he leaves two daughters, Lauren De Santis of Newport and Judy Andrea Bell of Middletown; a stepson, Robert Novick of Newport; a stepdaughter, Stephanie L. Rigney of Portsmouth, a brother, Herman Andrea of Portsmouth, five grandchildren and three stepgrandchildren. He was the brother of the late Charles Andrea, John Andrews, Manuel Andrea, Mary Rose Cunha and Mary Angel Sousa.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, June 5 at St. Joseph’s Church on Broadway. Internment was to be at Newport Memorial Park in Middletown. Donations may be made in his memory to the Potter League for Animals.
John J. Hattub,
84, of Middletown, who died on Saturday, June 2 at the Forest Farm Health Care Center in Middletown, was an insurance agent with Prudential Insurance Company for over twenty years and a former partner at the former American Ice and Coal Company in Newport.
Born in Newport, Mr. Hattub was the son of the late Michael and Esther Hyder Hattub. He was a veteran of World War II where he worked with the naval intelligence in Newport and in the Pacific. Mr. Hattub played baseball in the Newport Sunset League and was an avid bowler. He was an honorary lifetime member of Wanumetonomy Golf and Country Club in Middletown, honorary member of the Middletown Knights of Columbus and former member of the Middletown Rotary Club.
Mr. Hattub was the husband of the late Zita M. O’Connell Hattub. Mr. Hattub is survived by his daughter Mary Beth McMurray and his granddaughters Hannah McMurray and Rachel McMurray.
A Mass of Christian Burial was to be held Wednesday, June 6 at St. Lucy’s Church. Internment was to be at St. Columba Cemetery in Middletown. Donations may be made in his memory to the St. Lucy’s Church in Middletown.
Stephen David Northrup
55, formerly of Middletown, who died on Monday, June 4 at his Jamestown home, was the general manager at the Mount Hope Marine in Portsmouth.
Born in Newport, he was the son of the late Bernard H. and Mary G. (Lynch) Northrup. Mr. Northrup served in the National Guard from 1965 to 1970. He had worked as an engineer with the American Shipyard formerly Newport Shipyard.
He was the husband of Catherine Anne (Curran) Northrup. Besides his wife, he is survived by his daughter Jennifer Caswell of Jamestown; two brothers, Joseph Northrup of Newport, and Paul Northrup of Tiverton; a sister, Maryann Otto of Pittsboro, Ind.; and a granddaughter, Catherine Caswell of Jamestown.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, June 7 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church on Broadway. Burial will be private. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Alma M. Rusling
Alma Margaret Sweet Rusling, was a lifelong Point resident and a communicant of St. John the Evangelist Church on Washington Street for 65 years. She died at St. Clare’s Home on May 30 at the age of 90.
Describing her as a frequent correspondent, Reverend Jonathan Ostman of St. John said that she would send him clippings and quotations she thought would interest him. He also described her as being devoted to the church. She was a student of the Bible.
While living on Second Street, Mrs. Rusling was an avid amateur photographer who captured Point neighborhood scenes with various small cameras. She was especially fond of photographing the waterfront, including driftways, seawalls and shipbuilding on Washington Street.
"She learned to swim at the Willow Street driftway," said her daughter Ruth Kiker, an event that prompted a visit from her Boston relatives.
Described as "quiet," and as having "an old-fashioned kind of life," Mrs. Rusling lived during a time when everybody knew everyone else on the Point. In her later years, Mrs. Rusling was asked what she thought the biggest change on the Point had been. She answered, "Nobody knows my name."
Mrs. Rusling’s paternal ancestors came to this country in the 17th century, and she could trace her lineage to colonists who fought in the Revolutionary War.
She was born in Newport on April 5, 1911 to the late Maryanne Galway Sweet and Elmer Forrest Sweet, also of the Point. Her father was a stone cutter, whose shop Elmer F. Sweet Monuments, (later inherited by his son-in-law John Lord), stood next to Braman Cemetery at the corner of Farewell Street and what is now America’s Cup Avenue.
She was the sister of the late Ruth Archer Sweet Vevera, Esther Evans Sweet Norton and Vera Sweet.
Mrs. Rusling was the wife of the late Sheldon Stanley Rusling, who served with the Seabees in the South Pacific during World War II.
A former Girl Scout leader, Mrs. Rusling was a member of the Point Association and of Friends of the Waterfront. She was a former member of the Civic League, the Mosaic Club and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
She is survived by her brother Bowen Forrest Sweet of Providence; daughter, Ruth Rusling Kiker of Newport and son Robert Best Rusling of China Spring, Texas; three grandchildren, Ann Galway Kiker and James Benson Kiker of Newport and Michael Rusling of Bellingham, Wash.; and four great-grandchildren.
Her funeral was held at St. John the Evangelist on June 2. She was buried in Braman Cemetery on Farewell Street, Newport.
Donations may be made in her memory to St. John’s Church Discretionary Fund, 61 Poplar St., Newport, RI 02840.
Andrée "Dédée" Thoresen
By Audrey Oswald
Andrée Cecile Antoinette Thoresen, better known as Dédée, of Newport, died peacefully at Newport Hospital on May 13, 2001. She was born on November 6, 1906 in France. She leaves her husband, Jon, to whom she was married nearly 65 years. She was the mother of the late Arild Thoresen, who died two months before in France.
Dédée’s mother was Antoinette Sherman Gerard, the daughter of Frederick Sherman, brother of William Watts Sherman, formerly of Shepard Avenue in Newport.
Dédée’s father, Georges Abd–el–Messih Bey, was a dashing Egyptian who was killed in a polo accident when she was just 17 years old.
After marrying her Norwegian husband, Jon, whose family owned the Thoresen shipping line, the two lived for many years in France where he was a member of the American Field Service during World War II.
Having experienced wartime, Dédée told many stories of "just missing capture" by the Germans. However, many of the couple’s valuables were taken from their home as one of the unfortunate consequences of war.
"But at least," as Dédée would say, "the family escaped to safety, which was the most important."
For several years, the Thoresens lived in Gstaad, Switzerland, where Jon managed the Eagle Club, the renowned skiing club perched near the summit of the Wasserngrat mountain.
Dédée made friends wherever she went and never had a negative word to say about anyone. Her civility and kindness rubbed off on everyone who knew her.
All of her many Sherman and Foster cousins, as well as her many friends will miss her deeply. and send their support to her husband, Jon, as well as a pat and "big kiss" to Sandy, the Thoresen’s cherished Daschund.
Dédée was buried last month with her beloved son, Arild, near her grandmother, Marie Antoinette Foster Sherman, and her aunt, Fredericka Sherman in a country cemetery outside Paris, France.
Richard Marley
61, of 7 Scotty Drive in Portsmouth, died June 11 at home. He was the husband of Elizabeth J. (Andrews) Marley. Born in Newport Oct. 8, 1939, he was the son of Wealthy (Rose) Marley and the late Fredrick C. Marley, Sr. In his early years, Marley worked for the RI Transit Authority. He had also worked for D&M/Waste Management of RI for 24 years until his early retirement. He then went on to work for R.J. Crawley Construction and Sulbro Co. Marley was a member of the Newport Sportsman Club and the Viking Riders of Rhode Island.
He is survived by wife; his mother; son Richard P. Marley of Newport; stepsons Adam P. Andrews of Portsmouth and Michael Marley-Cosgrove of Newport; daughters Sharon Botelho of Middletown, Sandra Adams of Middletown, NH and Carolee Pachecho of Westerly; brothers Frederick C. Marley, Jr. of Alfred, ME, James E. Marley and Michael B. Marley of Orlando, FL and the late brother Franklin A. Marley; sisters Shirley Gallagher of Alfred, ME, Carolyn A. Gray of Portsmouth, Joanne Boden of Waldorf, MD, Marion E. Corey of Middletown, Donna L. Scott of Middletown and Linda Sherman of Middletown. He also leaves 11 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
His funeral was held June 13 at the Hambly Funeral Home in Newport. Burial was private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Hospice Unit of Visiting Nurse Services of Newport and Bristol counties, 1184 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871.
Ann "Nancy" E. Carroll,
(born Lyons) 72, of 75 Tuckerman Ave. in Middletown, died June 10 at the Grand Islander Health Care Center in Middletown. Born in Washington, DC on August 6, 1918, she was the daughter of the late James F. and Laura (Hoyle) Lyons. She moved to Newport from Washington, DC in 1927.
Carroll worked at AT&T for 40 years. She was the supervisor for the AT&T business office on Broadway. She was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Church and volunteered for their soup kitchen. She also belonged to the Pioneers of AT&T. Carroll was an active bridge player and gardener.
She is survived by son James L. Carroll of Middletown, five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was the mother of the late Carl H. Carroll and the sister of the late James F. Lyons and the late Laura L. (Lyons) Varner.
Funeral services will be held June 14 at 8 a.m. at the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Church, Broadway and Mann Avenue in Newport. Burial will take place in Trinity Cemetary.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Hospice Care of RI, 143 Main St., Wakefield, RI 02879 or to the St. Joseph’s Church building fund at 5 Mann Ave., Newport RI 02840.
Emily Czarnetzki
Emily M. Fitzgerald Czarnetzki, 91, formerly of Newport, died June 10, 2001 at home in Corning, Calif. She was the wife of the late C.W.O. Joseph M. Czarnetzki, USN retired. She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1910 and moved to Newport in 1918. In 1945, the family moved to Jamestown where they resided for many years. A graduate of Rogers High School, she continued her education in the arts for most of her life. She was an accomplished water colorist, an avid reader that delighted in story-telling and was interested in politics; campaigning for office in Jamestown in the 1950s. She traveled Europe throughout her lifetime, studying the arts and her Irish genealogy. She is survived by son David G. Czarnetzki of Bozeman, Mont.; daughters Patricia A. Sladick of Bozeman, Mont., Mary-Frances Doss of Corning, Calif. and Jean-Claire Morgan of Oceanside, Calif.; grandchildren Lisa Ogden, Heidi Melendez, David Morgan and Michael, Michelle and Janine Czarnetzki; five great-grandchildren; niece Dolores Murray and her best childhood friend, Louise Child Sherman of Newport. Services were held at the historic Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, Calif.
John Kelly
John Frederick Kelly, 99, of 12 Homer St. in Newport, died June 23, 2001 at Heatherwood Nursing and Subacute Center in Newport. He was the husband of Anna (Thomas) Kelly. Born in Providence Dec. 22, 1901, he was the son of the late Samuel and Elizabeth (Johnson) Kelly. He worked in the maintenance department for Quonset Point for 40 years, retiring in 1964. He is survived by his wife, daughters Muriel Ann Street of Mount Holly, N.J., Theresa E. Epps of Newport, Simone Kelly of Newport, Anna Mae Hardwick of Newport and Yvonne White of Fort Wayne, Ind., 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was the father of the late John Frederick Kelly, Jr., Richard Thomas Kelly and Cecily Wosecroft. A graveside service was held June 27.
Barry Wood
Barry Allen Wood, 53, of 11 Rosedale Terrace in Middletown, died June 25, 2001 at Newport Hospital. Born in Providence Oct. 4, 1947, he was the son of the late Stearns Wood and Bernice (Langley) Wood of Middletown. He worked for the City of Newport’s water department. A graduate of Middletown High School, he was a member of the school’s basketball and baseball teams from 1963-65. While on the baseball team, Wood pitched a no-hitter against Rogers High School May 17, 1965. He is survived by his son, Garrett Wood of Longwood, Fla.; daughter Carlee Wood of Longwood, Fla.; brothers Leonard T. Wood of Carmel, Calif. and Stearns W. Wood of Menomonie, Wis.; and sisters Charlotte Shirley of Middletown and Barbara Dickens of Newport. All funeral services were private. Donations may be made in his memory to the American Cancer Society, RI Chapter, 400 Main St., Pawtucket, RI 02860.
Paul T. Heffernan
80, of Orinda, Calif. died Tuesday May 29, 2001 in Walnut Creek, Calif. He was the husband of the late Shirley (Crane) Heffernan. He was born in Newport Dec. 13, 1920. Heffernan graduated with honors from De La Salle Academy in 1938 and entered the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis the following year. After receiving his wings at Corpus Christi, Texas, he spent the war years as a night fighter on several aircraft carriers in the South Pacific. He earned his master’s degree in engineering at the University of California-Berkeley and stayed in the active reserve, retiring as a captain. An avid tennis player, he was particularly proud when the horseshoe court at the Newport Casino was dedicated to his cousin, Henry Heffernan. An inveterate traveler, Heffernan had just returned from a nostalgic trip to the Pacific and Pearl Harbor. He is survived by three daughters, Gail Gale of Concord, Calif., Ann Lyman of Piedmont, Calif. and Susan Heffernan of Yankee Hill, Calif.; two sisters, Bette Murphy of Newport and Mary Works of Gloucester, Mass.; three grandchildren, Jeffrey Gale and Kelly and Caitlin Lyman; a friend, Lynn Riley; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife and a brother, Phillip Heffernan. A private memorial service is planned for June 24.
Francis S. Sheekey
79, of 325 Union St. in Portsmouth died Sunday, June 17, 2001 at home. He was the husband of Mary (Volpigno) Sheekey. Born in Newport Oct. 15, 1921, he was the son of the late James F. and Marion (Lynch) Sheekey. Sheekey served in the U.S. Armed Forces for 22 years, retiring in 1961 as Senior Chief Petty Officer Fire Controlman. He then went to work as an electronic technician at NUSC for 19 years, retiring in 1982. He was a communicant of St. Barnabas Church. He was a member of Green Valley Country Club, Fleet Reserve of Newport Branch 19, Newport Lodge of Elks and the Idle Hour Club. He was a graduate of Rogers High School and had attended Notre Dame University. He is survived by his wife, one son Andrew Sheekey of Portsmouth and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Thomas and James Sheekey, and a sister, Eleanor Finn. Funeral services will be held June 21 at 9 a.m. at the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway in Newport, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. in St. Barnabas Church, 1697 East Main Road in Portsmouth. Burial will be in Trinity Cemetery in Portsmouth. Donations in Sheekey’s name may be made to Portsmouth Volunteer Fire Department & Rescue Wagon Fund, P.O. Box 806, Portsmouth, RI 02871.
Arshag Gudoian
Arshag "Jacques" Gudoian, who has died aged 91, was a cook for 60 years at the Viking Hotel, St. George’s School, Salve Regina University and at the White Horse Tavern.
He retired from the White Horse Tavern in 1990 at the age of 80.
An East Bowery Street resident in Newport, Gudoian died on June 15 at Newport Hospital. He was the husband of the late Tarvis "Doris" (Shahinian) Gudoian.
Born in Armenia Jan. 31, 1910, Arshag Gudoian was the son of the late Varten and Egsieg (Zarafian) Gudoian.
He is survived by one son, Richard Gudoian of Portsmouth; two daughters, Martha Gudoian Bushey of Sunderland, Mass. and Madeline Palian of North Providence; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was also the brother of the late Moses Zarifian.
Funeral services and burial will be private. Memorial donations may be made to the Newport Rescue Wagon Fund, 21 W. Marlborough St., Newport, RI 02840.
