Joanne Donnelly

Joanne Donnelly, 71, of Newport, passed away Friday, August 3, 2018 in the Village House Nursing Center. She was the wife of the late Thomas (Fox) Donnelly.Born in Newport, she was the daughter of the late Arthur C. and Mary (DeCosta) Dias.Joanne graduated from St. Catherines Academy and was a member of their Alumni Association. She worked as a cook for the Sisters of Cluny School. Joanne also worked for Raytheon and then she became a technical instructor at Rogers High School in the Culinary Arts Department. She was a communicant of Jesus Saviour Church and was active member of the Vasco Da Gama Holy Ghost Society, and the Portuguese American Womens Civic League. She and her friends were active members of the merry Kumquats.She leaves her children, Thomas Donnelly and his wife Doreen of Middletown, Timothy Donnelly and his wife Michaele Leigh of Newport and Tara Donnelly and her husband Raymond Martucci of Newport. She also leaves her grandchildren Sophie, Emma Rose and Katherine.Joanne is also survived by her sister MaryAnn Gamer of Middletown, and brothers James F. Dias of Newport, John P. Dias of Middletown and was the beloved aunt Minnie to her nieces, nephews and great nieces and great nephews.She was the sister of the late Arthur C. Dias Jr.Calling hours will be held Monday, August 6, 2018 from 5:00PM to 8:00PM in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport.Her funeral service will be Tuesday, August 7, 2018 at 8:30 AM from the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 AM in Jesus Saviour Church, Broadway at Vernon Avenue, Newport. Burial will follow at St. Columba Cemetery, Middletown.Donations in her memory may be made to the Three Angels Fund, PO Box 4001, Middletown, RI 02842