World War II Naval Radioman Dies at Age 85

John “Duke” Reed passed away quietly at home on April 3, 2013 surrounded by his loving family.

John “Duke” Reed died at home on April 3, 2013 surrounded by his loving family.  He was born on March 24, 1928 on Staten Island, New York to the late Charles & Helen (Baum) Reed. At the end of the World War II, he signed up with the US Navy and was assigned to the first crew of the USS Tortuga. He served in the South Pacific and the Hawaiian Islands as a radioman. While stationed in Newport he met the love of his life Elizabeth “Sis” DeSantis. They married in 1953. He continued working on the US Navy Base here in Newport and retired in 1990. He also over the years tended bar in several Newport watering holes, the Torch Lounge, The Fireside, Canfield House, Newport Country Club and Cappy’s. He is survived by his children Jay Reed, Susan …

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Obituary: Adelaide Reynolds

Adelaide “Lyda” Reynolds, 96, of Middletown, died Saturday, March 30, 2013.

Adelaide “Lyda” Reynolds, 96, of Middletown, died Saturday, March 30, 2013 at John Clarke Health Care Center Middletown, RI. She was the wife of the late Frank J. Reynolds. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, April 3, from 5-8 pm, in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport. Her funeral will be held on Thursday, April 4, 2013, at 9am, from the funeral home, followed with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10am, in Jesus Saviour Church, Broadway, Newport. Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery in Middletown. Donations in her memory may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Jesus Saviour Church, Broadway, Newport, RI 02840. 

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Portsmouth's Oldest Resident, Nearly Oldest in State, Dies at 108

Zenon "Babe" St. Laurent, the oldest man in town and nearly oldest resident in Rhode Island, died Wednesday at age 108.

  The oldest man in Portsmouth, who continued dancing well into his 108th year, died Wednesday at the Warren Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after a brief illness.  Zenon "Babe" R. St. Laurent, 108, was an inspiration to this town and the state.  St. Laurent loved life and once told me he lived so long because he "had the will to live." Babe continued to enjoy life through playing guitar and billiards, only stopping a little this past year at age 108.  He was known to dance every Tuesday afternoon at a Fall River social club. He still spun around the dance floor at his last birthday party in July 2012.  Born July 19, 1904 in Fall River, MA, he was the son of the late Victorien and Lenore St. Laurent.  St. Laurent first went to …

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Family, Friends Say Goodbye to the Late Terry Chiodo

A funeral service was held this past Sunday for the late Terry Chiodo, who died Wednesday after being fatally stabbed on a RIPTA bus.

  Family members and friends said goodbye Sunday to the late Terry Lynn “Sam” (Damms) Chiodo, the Portsmouth woman who died Wednesday, Feb. 27, after being fatally stabbed on a RIPTA bus.  Many lined up outside the CrossPoint Church in Newport Sunday to pay their respects. A private burial was held after the service.  Chiodo, 46, of Portsmouth died Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, from injuries after she was transported by ambulance to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence.  Her estranged husband, Christopher James, has been charged with first-degree murder.  According to The Sakonnet Times, this violent act marks the first murder to take place in Portsmouth since 2002 and, according to the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the …

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Obituaries: Champlin, Kivlehan, Mihalick

The following obituaries were reported by local funeral homes

To read the full obiturary, click on the link to be directed to the funeral home. Beverly Champlin, 77, of Middletown died Thursday, Jan. 3, at home. Beverly worked at the former Savings Bank of Newport now BankNewport for over 40 years. Mary Gomes Kivlehan, 84, formerly of Middletown died on Jan. 1 in her home at Chesterbrook Residences in Falls Church, VA Edward Mihalick, 93, of Middletown died Saturday, Dec. Dec. 29th.  Edward was a World War II veteran of the United States Navy.    Don't miss out on important updates, get local news: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates 

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Obituary: Claire Delaney

Claire Delaney, 88, of Middletown, RI, died peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012, at the Grand Islander Health Care Center in Middletown.

Obituary: Paul L. Matthews, 63

Matthews died from head injuries after a crash on the Mt. Hope Bridge in Bristol on Dec. 1.

Paul Lawrence Matthews, of Heritage Road, Barrington, died Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012. He was 63. Born in Waltham, MA, he was a son of the late Stanley W. and Gertrude S. (Dore) Matthews. He is survived by his daughters, Kimberly L. Cranson and her husband Tom of Bedford, Mass. and Karie Ann Matthews; his brothers and sisters, Richard Matthews and his wife, Bjorg, of Greensboro, NC, Wayne A. Matthews and his wife, Eileen, of Houston, Tex., Stanley W. Matthews of Bristol, Lynn Curtin and her husband, Donald, of Barrington, and Judith A. Matthews of Portsmouth, NH, and his companion, Lenore Andrade of Warren.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Francis G. Matthews.  He was raised in Bristol, RI, and was a …

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Obituaries: Spillane, Rabatin

Two Middletown residents recently passed

Click on the link to see the complete obituary listed with the funeral home.  Elizabeth Ann (Brennan) Spillane, 91, of Middletown died peacefully Monday, December 10, 2012 at home in Middletown, surrounded by her family. Dolores T. (Raab) Rabatin, 85, of King Road, Middletown, RI, passed away Thursday, December 6, 2012 at Newport Hospital.

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Obituary: Arthur Jeremiah Potts

Arthur Jeremiah “Jerry” Potts, 73, of Middletown died Monday, Dec. 3, 2012 at home surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Mary (Bruner) Potts, and the father of the late Christopher S. Potts, KIA, and the late Kenneth Potts.

Lifelong Resident and Head of Energy Conservation at NUWC Passes

Dr. Robert S Lazar, 69, passed on Saturday

Dr. Robert S Lazar, age 69, of Middletown, RI and North Fort Meyers, FL died Saturday, November 24, 2012. Mr. Lazar was born January 1, 1943 in Newport, RI. He was the beloved husband of Cheryl Ekstrom Lazar and the son of the late Peter and Helen Lazar. Dr. Lazar was a graduate of Rogers High School, received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Rhode Island and his doctorate from Penn State University. Bob spent his career as a department head in the Energy Conservation Department at the Naval Underwater Systems Center in Newport, Rhode Island. Bob also served as president of Lazar’s Package store in Middletown and was a long-time member of the Board of Directors of Newport Fed Bank. Bob’s family includes his …

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