Memorial Funeral Home

375 Broadway
Newport, RI
401-846-0350

In 1936, Charles A. Edenbach Sr., along with his wife Loretta (Sullivan) Edenbach, established the Memorial Funeral Home when his storefront funeral directing business at 89 Broadway, Newport, was relocated to a "home for funerals", further out of town at 375 Broadway, Newport.

Mr. Edenbach Sr. was a visionary in many ways, being most notable was his creation of this grand colonial styled structure specifically created to provide family and friends a means to pay the finest tribute to the memory of their loved one, without hardship. His creation of this "home for funerals" was quite a new idea in the mid 1930's, as funerals in that era were conducted from the family home.

The funeral home structure itself was so advanced and complete when built, that it served the needs of the Newport community for more than 50 years before any significant changes were warranted. In the late 1980's, Mr. Edenbach's sons, Charles Jr. and Robert, paid tribute to their mother and father by extensively renovating the funeral home and dedicating a new funeral chapel to their memory.

Hambly Funeral Home

30 Red Cross Ave.
Newport, RI
401-846-0698

Occupying a three story, 20 room brick mansion, the Hambly Funeral Home at 30 Red Cross Avenue, Newport, has been providing dignified funeral services there since 1958, when Dwight Hambly and Charles "Andy" Hambly Jr. moved their father's funeral home from Mann Avenue, Newport.

Built in the 1860's, the "Brick House" as it is now known, resounded with the laughter and chatter of Newport's social elite for nearly a hundred years before being transformed from a private "summer cottage" into a funeral home by the Hambly family.

In 1974, Charles and Robert Edenbach purchased the Hambly Funeral Home, while retaining the professional assistance of Charles "Andy" Hambly, until his retirement from funeral service in the late 1970's.

Today, families gather in the "Brick House" and marvel at the beauty and elegance of a bygone time. Loved ones are entrusted to our care in a magnificent mansion with 14 foot high coffered ceilings, a grand staircase opening all three stories to the great hall, off which is found the stunning double parlor with two marble fireplaces, the former dining room complete with 6 foot chandelier overhead, and a formal library boasting casework and shelving from the floor to the ceiling.

Handsome Copper Beech trees, towering nearly 90 feet and planted with the original landscape design punctuate the three acre property, with its sweeping circular drive leading from the granite pillars street side to the front entrance framed by a classic gothic arch.

This funeral home exemplifies the Hambly funeral service motto of "Dignified and In Order".

Connors Funeral Home

55 West Main Rd.
Portsmouth, RI
401-683-2511

Following World War II, having just returned home from his service to our country, James E. Connors studied to become a funeral director and opened a funeral home in Bristol, Rhode Island.

In the 1950's he relocated the funeral home across the Mt. Hope Bridge to Bristol Ferry Road, Portsmouth. In 1983, Charles and Robert Edenbach purchased the Connors Funeral Home from Mr. Connors' widow, Mary Connors, a beloved Portsmouth school teacher.

In 1985 the Connors Funeral Home moved into its present location at 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth, just around the corner from its previous home. The funeral home now occupies a former sea captain's home built in the early 1860's, with sweeping views of the Narragansett Bay. At the turn of the 20th Century, the stately home was converted to the "Willow Brook Hotel". Photographs of the hotel and advertisements explaining the hotel's numerous amenities are featured in the entrance hall of the funeral home.

In 1995, the Edenbach's began major renovations to this historic structure and insisted that the "new" areas flow seamlessly from the original home. Original windows and doors were moved and incorporated into the new space while moldings and millwork were reproduced to match the details created in the original home nearly one hundred fifty years before. Lighting fixtures and furnishings are either period antiques or historic reproductions.

Today, families from the Bristol, Tiverton and Portsmouth surrounds, call upon the Connors Funeral Home to provide fitting final tributes for their loved ones.