Obituaries
William Thurber Ret. Battalion Chief PFD Obituary
81, of Hope, RI passed away Saturday January 22, 2024 at Crystal Lake Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.
He was the beloved husband of 56 years to Elaine (Creamer) Thurber.
Born in Providence, he was the son of the late Cecil T. and Catherine T. (Flannagan) Thurber. He was a Providence Firefighter for 35 years retiring as Battalion Chief and was a US Marine Corps veteran during the Vietnam era and a graduate of Providence College.
Besides his wife he was the devoted father of Kevin M. Thurber and his wife Kelley and dear brother of Thomas Thurber and his wife Nora.
His funeral will be held on Saturday January 27, 2024 at 8:45 am from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory 1278 Park Ave. Cranston, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am in St. Joseph’s Church 144 Danielson Pike No. Scituate. Burial will be private.
Visiting hours are Friday January 26, 2024 from 4 pm to 7 pm.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to: Shriners Hospital For Children 51 Blossom St. Boston, MA 02114.
Matthew Ray Obituary
Matthew F. Ray 78, of Riverside RI Passed away on January 13, 2024 after battling lung cancer for the past three years. He was the wife of Joanne G. (Santos) Ray. Born in Providence, RI on September 13, 1945 he was the son of the late Edgar M. and Catherine (Flanagan) Ray.
Matthew was a Providence Firefighter for many years before retiring in 1991. He also served his country as a U.S. Marine in the Vietnam War from 1965-1969.
Besides his wife Joanne, he leaves behind his children, Jennifer Bertrand and Christopher Ray and his wife Chrissy. Stepchildren, Rhonda Aurelio and her husband Tim, Allen Catlow and his wife Jacklyn.Grandchildren, Devon, Victoria and Veronica Bertrand and Kylie Ray, a deceased Grandson, Michael Bertand. Step grandchildren, James and Casey Catlow and Johnathan and Lauren Pereira. Matthew also leaves behind a brother the late David Ray and his wife Mary who resides in Seabrook, NH.
A Funeral Service will be held on January 29, 2024 at 10:00 AM in the Smith-Mason Funeral Home 398 Willett Ave Riverside, RI 02915.
He was the husband of the late Laura L. (Kolenda) Bock. Born in Providence, he was a son of the late Harry W. Bock Sr. and Harriet E. (Lacy) Bock.
Stephen was the loving father of Tracey L. Bock and Alek V. Bock; cherished grandpa of Jackson and Vivienne Shottek; and beloved brother of David Bock Sr. (PFD), Harry W. Bock Jr., Kenneth L. Bock (PFD), Timothy A. Bock (PFD), and the late Janice M. Bock, Susan F. Monti, Robert W. Bock, and Dennis Bock.
Stephen was a firefighter for the City of Providence from 1986-2000 before retiring.
Visitation will be held Tuesday from 9:00-11:00 am followed by a funeral service at 11:00 am in the Russell J. Boyle & Son Funeral Home, 331 Smith Street, Providence. Burial will be in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Providence Permanent Firemen’s Relief Association, 90 Printery Street, 2nd Floor, Providence, RI 02904.
Robert Waters
Robert J. Waters, 76, passed away Sunday, October 15, 2023. He was the beloved husband of 54 years of Karen M. (Hart) Waters. Robert had served in the U.S. Navy on a submarine during the Vietnam War. He had served with Providence Fire Department for 25 years retiring as Battalion Chief. He later served as the Chief of the Wellesley Fire Department for several years. Following his retirement, he received his Masters Degree in Public Administration from Harvard University. Afterwards, he started a consulting business. He finished his career with the Department of Homeland Security in Boston where he worked for 10 years. An artist for most of his life, Robert opened his own art studio in Pawtucket after his retirement from Homeland Security. He loved sailing, running, hiking and watching the Red Sox, Patriots and New York Giants.
He was the loving father of Sean Waters and Timothy Waters. He also leaves his siblings Ruth Schroer, Jean Risdel, Bernard J. Waters and Susan Nelson.
A visitation will be held 10:00-11:30am with a service at 11:30am on Thursday, October 19, 2023 in the Tucker-Quinn Funeral Chapel 643 Putnam Ave, Greenville. Burial with Military Honors in the RI Veterans’ Cemetery, Exeter.
Cornel Young
Cornel Young 73, passed away October 7, 2023 in Apopka, Florida. Cornel was born April 5,1950 in Wetumpka, Alabama.
He graduated from Hope High School in Providence, RI – Class of 1969 and he studied Criminal Justice at Roger Williams University. In 1975 Cornel graduated from the Providence Police Academy as a Patrol Officer 3rd grade and he ascended through the ranks, retiring as a Major, and Officer-In-Charge of Community Policing throughout the City.
He was the recipient of numerous awards throughout his illustrious career. Cornel was a member of the NAACP, The Fraternal Order of Police, The Rhode Island Minority Police Association, The Providence Lions Club, The National Concerns Of Police Survivors Assn. (COPS) and The Central Florida COPS. Cornel held the admiration of his family, peers and innumerable friends from Rhode Island to Alabama to Apopka, FL, where he resided since 2003. All have expressed their sadness at his departure, and all have expressed how so very happy they are to have had Cornel be a part of their lives.
Cornel is survived by his loving wife, Amerencia (Amy) Young (Duarte); beloved children, Donnell and Angel Matthews, Joshua Young and Jessica Young-Gregory (Anthony ‘Tony’ Gregory); His dear mother, Lizzie (Madear) Young; his sister, Shirley Lofton; his brother, Robert Young; and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, grand nieces/nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Eddie F. Young and by his son, Cornel ‘Jai’ Young, Jr.
Funeral Services for family and friends will be held Saturday, October 21, at 10:00 a.m. at Mount Hope Community Baptist Church, 734 Hope Street, Providence, RI. Entombment will follow immediately at Swan Pointe Cemetery, 585 Blackstone Blvd., Providence, RI.
William “Red” O’Neill
Obituary
William “Red” B. O’Neill, 83, of Cumberland, passed away peacefully with his family by his side Wednesday, September 27, 2023. He was the beloved husband of Claire (Lapointe) O’Neill. They were happily married for 46 years. Born in Providence, he was the son of the late William and Mary (Byrne) O’Neill. William was a US Navy veteran. He was a firefighter for the city of Providence with over 30 years of service.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his children, William O’Neill and his wife Sheri, and Michael O’Neill and his wife Elisabeth; six grandchildren, William, Edward, Daniel, Thomas, Jack, and John O’Neill. He is also survived by his sister, Maryann Finn.
The funeral will be held on Tuesday, October 3rd at 9:30 AM from the O’Neill Funeral Home, 3102 Mendon Road, Cumberland, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM in Saint Aidan – Saint Patrick Parish, Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland. Calling hours respectfully omitted. Burial will be private.
