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Everett T. Silvia
Former cabler at
Kaiser Aluminum
Everett T. Silvia, 77, of 658 Middle Road, Portsmouth, died Friday, Aug. 9, 2002, at the Heatherwood Nursing and Subacute Center in Newport. He was the husband of Frances (Virgadamo) Silvia.
Born in East Taunton, Mass., on Jan. 19, 1925, he was the son of the late Antone and Mary (Travers) Silvia.
Mr. Silvia worked as a cabler for over 32 years at Kaiser Aluminum. He worked at Newport Hospital before entering the service. During World War II, he was a medic in the United States Army and participated in the invasion of Normandy.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Silvia is survived by a son, Paul Silvia of Newport; a daughter, Maryrose Silvia of Portsmouth; a sister, Hazel Giles of Indianapolis; a sister-in-law, Lillian Hanson of Las Vegas; and several nieces and nephews.
His funeral was held Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2002, from the Connors Funeral Home in Portsmouth, with a Mass of Christian Burial on St. Anthony’s Church. Burial was in Newport Memorial Park in Middletown.
Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 245 Waterman St., Suite 306, Providence, RI 02906.
Martha Gracey
Leaves family
in Portsmouth
Martha (Wentworth) Gracey, 51, of Suffield, Conn., died Sunday, July 28, 2002, at home. She was the wife of John P. Gracey.
Born in Colorado Springs, Colo., she was the daughter of the late Paul and Erna Wentworth. She was a graduate of the University of Maine, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering.
Mrs. Gracey had been employed by Kaman Airspace since 1983, where she worked as director of product engineering. She previously worked at Boeing in Seattle.
She was a member of Calvary Episcopal Church in Suffield, where she served as the Sunday school director for many years. She was active in the local Girl Scouts group and was a past president of the Connecticut Valley Chapter of the American Helicopter Society.
In addition to her husband, she leaves two sons, Daniel W. Gracey of Miami and Brian C. Gracey of Suffield; two daughters, Emily E. Gracey of Asheville, N.C., and Elizabeth E. Gracey of Suffield; and two sisters, Sarah Wentworth of Cambridge, Mass., and Lucinda Wentworth of Orlando, Maine.
She was the daughter-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. John Gracey Sr. of Portsmouth.
Mrs. Gracey was also the sister of the late Robert Wentworth.
Her funeral was held Thursday, Aug. 1 in Suffield. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery in Suffield.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the McAlister Middle School Activity Fund, 260 Mountain Road, Suffield, CT 06078 or to Home and Community Health Care, 140 Hazard Ave., Enfield, CT 06082.
Raymond Dufresne Sr.
Leaves a son in Barrington
Raymond Dufresne Sr., 91, of Greenville and formerly of North Providence, died Tuesday, August 6, 2002 at Village at Waterman Lake in Greenville. He was the husband of Aline E. (Lessard) Dufresne; they had been married for 62 years.
Born in Providence, a son of the late Joseph and Florida Dufresne, he had lived in Greenville for five months, previously living in North Providence for 38 years. He had also lived in Cambridge, Mass., Laconia, N.H. and Caribou, Maine.
Mr. Dufresne was a manger at Woolworth’s for 30 years in the New England area before retiring in 1966. He was a 1928 graduate of La Salle Academy in Providence and a communicant of St. Edward Church in Providence.
Besides his wife, he leaves a son, Dr. Raymond G. Dufresne Jr. of Barrington; three daughters, Diane M. Giroux of Greenville, Maine, Jane I. Landry of Richmond, Va. and Mary R. Strniste of North Scituate; nine grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. He was a brother of the late Helena Nadeau, Flora Tetreault, Nora Gendreau and Leo, Louis, Edmund, Albert and Richard Dufresne.
Funeral services were held Saturday, August 10, from the Pontarelli-Marino Home in Providence, with a Mass of Christian burial in St. Edward Church in Providence. Burial followed in St. Ann Cemetery in Cranston.
Beth Marie Holland
Secretary during Nuremberg Trials
Beth Marie Holland, 79, of Joyce Street, died Sunday, August 4, 2002 at Water View Villa Nursing Home in East Providence.
Born in Fort Smith, Ark., a daughter of the late Roy and Elizabeth (Kuper) Upchurch Sr., she had lived in Tulsa, Okla., most of her life before moving to Barrington a year ago. She worked as a civilian secretary for the Army Corps of Engineers, retiring in 1984. She worked as a secretary in Germany during the Nuremberg Trials after World War II.
Ms. Holland was a former member of Madelene Catholic Church, and a volunteer for the League of Women Voters and for the Little Lighthouse. She was an avid bridge player.
She leaves a lifelong friend, Alan Geismar of Tulsa; four daughters, Elizabeth Burnham of Trappe, Md., Mary Spyres and Janis Furlong, both of Barrington, and Judy Holland of Denver; a brother, Roy Upchurch Jr. of Tulsa; and nine grandchildren. She was the sister of the late Heine Upchurch.
A memorial service will be held in Tulsa at a time to be announced.
Rose M. Takacs
Former resident
Rose M. Takacs, 86, a resident of the Silver Creek Manor nursing center in Bristol, died Friday, Aug. 9, 2002 at home. She was the wife of the late Albert Takacs.
Born in Bridgeport, Conn., a daughter of the late John and Anna (Pavelko) Takacs, she lived in Fairfield, Conn. and at Bay Spring Village in Barrington before moving to Bristol.
Mrs. Takacs worked at Hubbel Inc. in Bridgeport, Conn. for over 25 years until her retirement.
She leaves a daughter, Kathleen Salko of Lubec, Maine; two granddaughters, two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Arrangements were by the Cremation Society of Rhode Island.
Peter P. Wyka
Leaves stepson in Portsmouth
Peter P. Wyka, 73, of Fall River died Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2002, at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River. He was the husband of the late Lorraine (Harrington) Guimar-Wyka.
Born in Fall River, he was the son of the late Peter and Dianna (Tavares) Wyka. He was a lifelong resident of Fall River.
Mr. Wyka worked for Poole Silver Co. in Fall River and the Towle Manufacturing Co. in Taunton. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War.
He leaves a stepson, Armand Guimar of Portsmouth; a stepdaughter, Janice Sullivan of Alexander, Maine; a brother, William Ryka of Swansea; six step-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
His funeral was held Saturday, Aug. 17, 2002, in Auclair Funeral Home in Fall River. Burial was in Notre Dame Cemetery in Fall River.
Robert C. Nicolan
Carpenter, Army
veteran of Vietnam
Robert C. Nicolan, 58, of East Briggs Road, Westport, died Thursday, Aug. 15, 2002, at the Philip Hulitar Center, Providence, after a brief illness.
Born in Fall River, he was the son of John Nicolan of Raynham and the late Lucille (Boulay) Nicolan. He was a lifelong resident of Westport.
Mr. Nicolan worked as a carpenter and was employed by various area contractors.
He was an Army veteran of Vietnam and a member of Local Union 1305.
Besides his father, he leaves a daughter, Misty L. Teixeira of Fall River; a son, Dale Allen of Ohio; a brother, Gerald Nicolan of Westport; four sisters, Charlene Souza of Stuart, Fla., Mariette Mandley of Port St. Lucie, Fla., and Sandra Belisle and Karen Carreira, both of Westport; three grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and a dear friend, Carolyn Montecalvo of Coventry, RI.
At his own request, there will be no funeral services. Arrangements are by the Potter Funeral Home, 81 Reed Road, Westport.
Michelle A. Silvia
Tiverton resident,
worked with handicapped
Michelle A. (Theroux) Silvia, 35, of Fairfield Avenue, Tiverton, died unexpectedly on Monday, Aug. 19, 2002, at the Canoe River Campgrounds, Mansfield, Mass.
Born in Fall River, a daughter of Robert E. and Lorraine H. (Bastille) Theroux of Westport, she had lived in Tiverton for the past 11 years. She was a graduate of Bishop Stang High School, Dartmouth, Mass.
Mrs. Silvia was a volunteer with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and worked with the handicapped.
She attended Our Lady of Grace Church in Westport.
In addition to her parents, she leaves a son, Jamie Silvia, and a daughter, Kristen K. Silvia, both of Tiverton; a brother, Stephen C. Theroux of Nantucket; two sisters, Carol A. Cabral of Fall River and Tami A. Teixeira of Westport; and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, Aug. 22, at Our Lady of Grace Church, Stafford Road, Westport. Burial will be in Beech Grove Cemetery, Westport.
Margaret C. Abney
Arkansas resident, formerly of Westport
Margaret C. Abney, 42, formerly of Westport, died Wednesday, April 24, 2002, in Yelleville, Ark.
Born in Fall River, she was the daughter of Marvin Abney and Margaret (Griffin) Abney.
Besides her parents, she leaves two brothers, Mark Abney of Arkansas and Matthew Abney of Illinois; a sister, Mary Diana of Illinois; an aunt, Dorothea Hallisey of Fall River; an uncle, Robert J. Griffin of Fall River; three nephews; three nieces; and many cousins.
A memorial Mass was celebrated on Sunday, Aug. 18, at St. George Church in Westport. Arrangements were by the Roller Funeral Home in Mountain Home, Arkansas.
Anne C. Christensen
Active member of
St. Barnabas Church
Anne C. Christensen, 74, of 39 Quail Road, Portsmouth, and formerly of 85 Linda Terrace, Portsmouth, died Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2002, at Newport Hospital. She was the wife of Forrest William Christensen.
Born in Dorchester, Mass., on April 29, 1928, she was the daughter of the late John J. and Agnes (Conlon) McDonald. She was a graduate of Chandler School in Boston.
She was very involved in St. Barnabas Church activities in the past and was also active in the St. Philomena School Parent Association.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Christensen leaves a son, Eric John Christensen of Newport; two daughters, Diane Christine Christensen of Richmond, and Madeline Anne Oliver of Attleboro; a brother, David Paul McDonald of Randolph, Mass.; a sister, Helen M. Foote of Aurora, Ill.; and two grandchildren. She was the sister of the late John J. McDonald.
Her funeral was held on Monday, Aug. 26 in St. John the Evangelist Church in Pocasset, Mass. Burial was in the National Veterans Cemetery in Bourne, Mass.
Diane C. Jarest-Wood
Leaves sister
in Portsmouth
Diane C. (Bessette) Jarest-Wood, 69, of Pawtucket, died Thursday, Aug. 22, 2002 at home. She was the wife of Alfred H. Wood Jr., to whom she had been married to for 35 years, and the late Edward R. Jarest.
Born in Pawtucket, a daughter of the late Ernest and Yvonne (Laliberte) Bessette, she was a lifelong resident of Pawtucket.
Mrs. Jarest-Wood worked for the Brooks warehouse as a packer for 25 years until retiring. She was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Pawtucket.
A nature enthusiast, she was an avid gardener and member of the National Wildlife Foundation.
Besides her husband, she leaves a daughter, Donna A. Doyle of Barrington; two brothers, Normand Bessette of Seekonk and Bernard Bessette of Pawtucket; four sisters, Jeanne Dube of Portsmouth, Bernadette LaPointe of South Attleboro, Theresa Nordquist of Fort Myers, Fla. and Ann-Marie Gentile of Coventry; three grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. She was a sister of the late Simone Gentile and Michael Bessette.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday, Aug. 26, in Sacred Heart Church. Burial was private.
