Evelyn T. Santos

MIDDLETOWN - Evelyn T. (Moniz) Santos, 92, of Middletown, RI, entered into eternal peace on September 4, 2017, at Newport Hospital, surrounded by loved ones. She is the beloved wife of Antone "Tony" R. Santos for 69 years. The two were introduced on August 20th, 1944, at The Arena on Bath Road, by Tony's sister and Evelyn's dear friend, Lena (Santos) Bettencourt. The two were apart for 3 years, while Tony faithfully served in the Army during WWII. Upon his return in 1947, the two reconnected. Tony proposed on Christmas of 1947, they were married on August 4, 1948, and were from then on inseparable. In recent years, Evelyn and Tony enjoyed a regular Wednesday/Saturday routine of visiting Lena to play dominoes. Evelyn had a great passion for feeding people. You couldn't enter her house without being invited to her table, and you couldn't leave without a full belly. Everything she served was a form of love in a bowl. She enjoyed baking and decorating ornate cakes to commemorate holidays, Christenings, and other special occasions. She retired after 17 years of employment at Middletown High School cafeteria, where she took great joy in feeding the youth of the town from 1969 to 1986. She always made sure that anyone without the ability to pay was well fed. Prior to her work at the school, she also was employed at Goodwill Dry Cleaners, Egan's Laundry and W.T. Grant Co. Born in Portsmouth, RI on September 24, 1924, she is the daughter of the late Joseph F. Moniz and Maria Pacheco Moniz Garcia, and the step-daughter of the late John Garcia. She is survived by her devoted husband of 69 years and their three sons, Michael A. Santos (Debra) of Portsmouth, Richard A. Santos (Sue) of Portsmouth, and Robert F. Santos (Mary) of Middletown; 8 grandchildren: Denise Santos-Colonel, Kimberly Santos, Leo and Jared Bonnenfant, Justine Santos, Maggie Smith, Richard A. Santos Jr., Daniel Pinheiro; 17 great-grandchildren: Michaela Santos, Emily Jackson, Christopher and Jacob Colonel, Emrys and Isaac Hicks-Santos, Leo Paul Bonnenfant Jr, Patrick, Derek and Madison Bonnenfant, Lacy and Hailey Bonnenfant, Camryn Johnson, Mason and Addison Smith, Jayleigh and Mae Santos; and one great-great-granddaughter, Ava Anaya Jackson. She also leaves behind a cousin, Irene Pacheco of Somerset, MA, her sisters-in-law Lena Bettencourt and Mary Viera-Moniz, as well as many nieces and nephews. She took great pride in all 5 generations of her family. In addition to her parents, Evelyn is preceded in death by her precious daughter Bernadette Marie; and 8 siblings: Emily Lowden, Mary-Teresa Warner, Grace Perry, Joseph Moniz, Jesse Moniz, Gloria Medeiros, Ethel Crotteau, and Olive Escobar.The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to Dr. Alessandro Papa, MD, the Newport Hospital Tower 4 nursing staff, Tower 5 Oncology department staff, and the Visiting Nurses of Portsmouth, for their extraordinary care and compassion during Evelyn's final weeks. Very special thanks also go to Evelyn's primary care doctor of over 3 decades, Dr. John McCaffrey D.O., and his wife Kathy, whose care for Evelyn over the years far exceeded standard expectations. Calling hours will be held Sunday, September 10, 2017, from 4-7 p.m., in the Memorial Funeral Home 375 Broadway, Newport. Her funeral will be held Monday, September 11, 2017 at 8 a.m. from the funeral Home, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9am in St. Lucy's Church, 909 West Main Rd. Middletown. Burial will follow in St. Columba Cemetery, Middletown. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Evelyn's memory to The Salvation Army Soup Kitchen http://ctri.salvationarmy.org/SNE/MemorialGifts, The Middletown Fire Department Rescue Fund, or the charity of your choice. Cemetery Details St. Columba Catholic Cemetery Brown's Lane Middletown, RI, 02842 Visitation SEP 10. 04:00 PM - 07:00 PM Memorial Funeral Home 375 Broadway Newport, RI, US, 02840 info@memorialfuneralhome.com http://www.memorialfuneralhome.com Mass of Christian Burial SEP 11. 09:00 AM St. Lucys Church 909 West Main Road Middletown, RI, US, 02842