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Joseph A. Sposato
Joseph A. Sposato, 91, of Connors Avenue, Westerly, died on Tuesday morning, July 8, 2003, at the Westerly Health Center. His wife, Lucienne (Jean) Sposato died in 1996. He leaves a stepson, Donald Bernier of Westerly; two brothers, Samuel Sposato of Stonington and Louis P. Sposato of Westerly; a sister, Rose L. Sposato of Westerly; and many nieces and nephews.
He was pre-deceased by three brothers, James J. Sposato Sr., Willie S. Sposato and Pasquale "Pat" Sposato; and a sister, Theresa M. Esposito.
Mr. Sposato was born in Retsof, N.Y., on March 25, 1912, the son of Vincenzo and Marianna (Marino) Sposato. After attending the Westerly Public School System, Mr. Sposato went to work for the American Velvet Company in Stonington as an instructor. He founded the first organized union at the company. He worked there for 53 years, retiring in 1980. He was the president of Local 3110, Textile Workers Union of America and the AFL-CIO continuously from 1940-1966. Mr. Sposato was a graduate of the University of Rhode Island - Institute of Management Program and the School of Business. He became the director of public welfare in Westerly as well as being appointed housing director of weights and measures. In his earlier years, he owned the North End Social Club.
The funeral will be held on Thursday, July 10, from Rushlow-Iacoi Funeral Home, 64 Friendship St., Westerly with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. at St. Pius X Church, 44 Elm St., Westerly. There will be no procession from the funeral home. Burial will take place at St. Sebastian Cemetery, Westerly. A calling hour will take place at the funeral home from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mr. Sposato's name can be made to St. Pius X Church, 44 Elm St., Westerly, RI 02891.
BARBARA E. MERCURIO
Barbara E. Mercurio, 14, of 1115 Main St., Hope Valley, died Wednesday, July 23, 2003, at Rhode Island Hospital. She was the beloved daughter of Anthony and Eileen (Kenyon) Mercurio.
Barbara was born in South Kingstown on Oct. 15, 1988. She was a 9th-grade student at Chariho Regional High School.
Besides her parents, she will be sadly missed by her sister, Angela Barnes of West Warwick; and her brother Angelo Mercurio of Hope Valley. She also leaves two nieces, Diana Mercurio and Emily Barnes.
A graveside service will be held on Sunday at 2 p.m. in White Brook Cemetery, Pine Hill Road, Carolina. Calling hours will precede the service from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the S.R. Avery Funeral Home, Main Street, Hope Valley.
JEANNETTE BLIVEN
Jeannette (Bodell) Bliven, 80, of South Arnolda Road, Charlestown, died suddenly on Aug. 1, 2003, at The Westerly Hospital. She was the wife of the late George F. Bliven Jr.
Born in Providence, on March 2, 1923, she was the daughter of the late Frederick and Albina Trahan Bodell.
Jeannette attended the Lincoln School in Providence and graduated from Bradford Junior College, Haverhill, Mass. Throughout her life she dedicated herself in service to community and to her family. She was active in the PTA in the Warwick school system, a Scout leader, an avid gardener, and program chair of Ye Kings Towne Garden Club, North Kingstown. Active in Concerned Citizens of Rhode Island (CCRI), she gathered and disseminated information and organized craft and community fairs to raise funds to defeat a proposed nuclear power plant that threatened the ecosystems of Charlestown. She helped establish Frosty Drew Nature Center and Observatory, and she served on its board of directors. She studied public access to Charlestown Pond during the development of a harbor management plan. She worked with the community preservation committee to prevent the construction of a rock crusher across from Ninigret Park. Westerly Hospital Auxiliary recognized her for many hours of service. She was also an accomplished weaver and golfer.
She is survived by her daughter, Bonnie Van Slyke and her husband John of Harvard, Mass.; son, George F. Bliven III and his wife Elizabeth of Santa Fe, N.M.; granddaughters, Rachel Bliven and Teresa Bliven; and grandsons, John R. Van Slyke III, Orjan Bliven, and Francis Bliven.
A memorial service will be held at Swan Point Cemetery, 585 Blackstone Blvd., Providence, on Thursday at 10 a.m. All are also invited to a reception at the Cobden residence, 11 Stumpy Point Lane, Charlestown, following the service, at 2 p.m. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Buckler-Johnston Funeral Home, 121 Main St., Westerly.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Frosty Drew Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 160, Charlestown, RI 02813, or to The Westerly Hospital, 25 Wells Street, Westerly, RI 02891.
DR. DOMINIC FRANK CHIMENTO
Dr. Dominic Frank Chimento, a retired physician and a former chief of surgery at The Westerly Hospital, died peacefully at his home in Derry, N.H., on July 30, 2003. He was 88 and death was from natural causes.
Dr. Chimento practiced medicine in Westerly from 1950 until his retirement in 1994. An internal surgeon and also a general practitioner in the old style, he made thousands of house calls, delivered scores of children, and was a friend and counselor to generations of Westerly patients and physicians. In 1984, the town council presented him with a Certificate of Appreciation for his years of service to the community.
Dr. Chimento was born in 1914 in Westerly, the son of Italian immigrants, Francesco and Angelina (Groccia) Chimento. He graduated from Westerly High School in 1933, the University of Rhode Island in 1937, and was awarded his medical degree from St. Louis University in 1942. He was a member of the American Medical Association, the Rhode Island Medical Association, the Washington County Medical Society and the staff of The Westerly Hospital.
During World War II, he served in the European Theatre as a captain in the medical corps, U.S. Army. In 1946, he returned to St. Vincent's Hospital in Indianapolis, Ind., to complete his three-year surgical residency and to marry Florence (Johantges), who had waited for him and who was at his side until his passing. In his retirement, Dr. Chimento devoted himself to his family. He was especially thrilled this spring to see Funny Cide, a horse foaled and raised by his daughter, Anne McMahon, of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.
Dr. Chimento is survived by Florence, their three children, George, Anne and Donna (Moltenbrey), eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, with a third to arrive shortly. The doctor is also mourned by his brother, George, the last survivor of five siblings, by beloved nephews, nieces and their children, and by the many people whose lives he touched so deeply. Gifts in his memory may be given to The Westerly Hospital Foundation, 25 Wells St., Westerly, RI 02891 or to the American Cancer Society.
The Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry, N.H., handled the arrangements.
Mary Weeks (Patterson) MacLean
Mary Weeks (Patterson) MacLean, 59, of Whitehall Landing, Mystic, and Flushing, N.Y., died Monday, Aug. 4, 2003, at William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich after a brief illness.
Mrs. MacLean was born in New York on June 30, 1944, the daughter of Bryant and Harriet (Wheeler) Patterson. Raised in New York, she attended local schools.
She was employed as an elementary school teacher in New York for several years before recently retiring due to ill health.
Mary is survived by her great-aunt, Virginia Shook of New London; her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Dudley R. Wheeler of North Stonington; several cousins; a niece; and a great-niece.
A funeral service will be conducted at Christ Episcopal Church, corner of Broad and Elm streets, Westerly, on Friday at 2 p.m. Burial will be in the Wheeler Family Cemetery, North Stonington, There are no visiting hours. The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl St., historic downtown Mystic. is assisting the family.
Donations in Mary's memory may be made to Scottish Heritage USA, Inc., P.O. Box 457, Pinehurst, NC 28370; All Saints' Church, 214-35 40th Ave., Bayside, NY 11361, or the Queensborough Public Library, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11432.
RICHARD S. SCHELL
Richard S. Schell passed away unexpectedly on Aug. 1, 2003.
He was born on Jan. 23, 1966, in Mt. Kisco, N.Y. He resided in Brewster, N.Y. He was formerly vice president of Fair-Chester Builders, Pleasantville, N.Y., and was currently employed by the A. Liss Co., of Queens, N.Y.
He attended John Jay High School, Cross River, N.Y., spending his senior year at Mercersburg Academy, Mercersburg, Pa., and graduated from Roger Williams University, Bristol.
He is survived by his wife, Holly Jean Sylvia Schell; by Spencer and Jillian Schell, son and daughter from a previous marriage; parents, Albert and Dinah Schell of Sanibel, Fla., and Grantham, N,H,; sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth and Christopher Garti; niece, Caroline, and nephew Griffin Garti of Yorktown Heights, N,Y,; a brother, James of Greenwich, Conn.; and maternal grandfather William Buckhout of Ft. Meyers, Fla.
Richard was an accomplished fly fisherman and outdoorsman, spending much time fishing in the Florida Keys, Bahama Islands, and Long Island Sound. He was active in coaching Little League baseball in Lewisboro, N.Y.
A memorial service will be held at the South Salem Presbyterian Church, South Salem, N.Y., on Friday, Aug. 15, at 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be sent in Richard's name to the Field of Dreams Project II, P.O. Box 524, Goldens Bridge, N.Y. 10526.
DOREEN M. BLISS
Doreen M. Bliss, 48, died July 27, 2003, at the Royal Nursing Home, Falmouth, Mass., after a 5-year battle with scleroderma.
Born in Westerly, Sept. 12, 1954, she was the daughter of Jean (Denham) and the late Hayden "Skip" Bliss of Centerville, Mass.
She had lived periodically on the Cape since 1975,
In addition to her mother, she is survived by a son, Jared J. Carvello of South Yarmouth, Mass; and a daughter, Ciara (Bliss) Hatcher of New Seabury, Mass.,
Burial was July 30 in the First Hopkinton Cemetery, Ashaway, her home town where she was raised and educated.
