Agnes M. Johann

Newport, RI - Agnes M. Murphy Johann, 87, of 23 Almy Street, Newport, RI, died Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at Newport Hospital, Newport, RI. She was the wife of the late Joseph V. Johann. Born in Newport, RI on January 13, 1920, she was the daughter of the late John J. and Maria A. Connors Murphy. Mrs. Johann graduated from Rogers High School in 1938, and worked as a military payroll supervisor at the Newport Naval Base, and later as a supervisor at the Naval Disbursing Office. Always a nurse at heart, she learned much about nursing from her sisters, Margaret and Marie, and used those skills to do private duty care for a number of people on the island. She was a member of the St. Joseph?s Mothers Club, a Girl Scout leader for twelve years, and a V.I.N.E. volunteer at Sheffield School for over thirty years. Although she never learned to drive, she was often seen walking around town - - as fast as her legs would take her. In later years she enjoyed ?hopping the bus? with friends, sometimes going to Providence for lunch. She always chose huge Christmas trees, and filled gigantic stockings for her family. Children loved to visit, and would play for hours in her toy-filled sun porch. She is survived by her daughters, Mary Alice Johann of Newport, RI, and Beth Johann Rossi of Franklin, MA, her grandchildren Joanna, Louis and Alyssa Rossi of Franklin, MA and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. She was the mother-in-law of the late Louis S. Rossi, and she was predeceased by her nine siblings; John Murphy, Alice DeMarco, Margaret Murphy, Marie Kenney, William Murphy, Katherine West, Ruth Murphy, Thomas Murphy and Dolores Conaway. Her funeral will be held on Friday, October 19, 2007, at 8:00 am from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:00 am in St. Mary?s Church, Spring Street, Newport. Burial will be in St. Columbas Cemetery in Middletown.Calling hours will be held on Thursday, October 18, 2007, from 4-8 in the funeral home. Donations in her memory may be made to the ?Rossi Family Scholarship Fund,? a fund that provides scholarships to high school graduates who are pursuing a degree in culinary arts and/or restaurant management, c/o Carrie Bailey at Strata Bank, 281 E. Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038.