Dennis James Cordeiro

Portsmouth, RI - Dennis James Cordeiro, 67, of 448 Park Avenue, Portsmouth, RI, died Monday, December 18, 2006 at Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River, MA. Born in Newport, RI on August 31, 1939, he was the son of the late Manuel O. and Bella Alfonso Cordeiro.Dennis entered the Portsmouth Police Department in 1967 and worked his way up to Deputy Chief in 1981, until his retirement in 1987 after 20 years. In 1986 he started his own business the Portsmouth Lawn Mower Repair and has operated it since then. Dennis was a former mechanic at Texaco Gas Station in Portsmouth, the Portable Forms Inc., and a boat mechanic at Brewister Marine. He was a member of the Portsmouth Police Association, the Portsmouth Portuguese American Club, and the Commission Police Officer Association of Rhode Island. Dennis was also a life member of the Sakonnet Sportsman Club. He is survived by his companion Helen Martins of Fall River, MA, his daughters Annette Correia and Cheryl Silvia both of Tiverton, RI, and Denise Wesolek of Trevor, WI, his step children Robert Martins and Arlene Martins both of Fall River, MA, his brother Raymond Cordeiro of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, his sister Delores Cinotti of Portsmouth, RI his grandchildren, Nicholas Silvia and Erik Silvia of Tiverton, RI, Gabrielle Wesolek of Trevor, WI, and Brittney Silvia of Fall River, MA and several nieces and nephews. His funeral will be held on Wednesday, December 20, 2006, at 9:00 am from the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am in St. Barnabas Church, 1697 East Main Road, Portsmouth. Burial will be in St. Columbas Cemetery in Middletown.Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 from 4-8pm in the Connors Funeral Home. Donations in his memory may be made to the Portsmouth Volunteer Fire Department Rescue Wagon Fund, P.O. Box 806, Portsmouth, RI, 02871.