Edna Mae Craig

Portsmouth, RI - Edna Mae Silvia Craig, 91, of 95 Brownell Lane, Portsmouth, RI, died Friday, June 20, 2008 at Forest Farm Health Care Center, Middletown, RI. She was the wife of Russell J. Craig Sr. Born in Portsmouth, RI on July 5, 1916, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Maria C. Lima Silvia.Mrs. Craig worked as a housekeeper in private service for families in Portsmouth and Tiverton for fifty years. She also worked for the former Almy House for thirty years. During WWII, she worked at the Newport Naval Station in the dry cleaning department. All her life she worked and managed the family farm where she was known for her strawberries and corn. Mrs. Craig was a communicant of St. Anthonys Church. She enjoyed canning and was an avid Red Sox fan. Besides her husband of sixty-two years, she leaves her children Geraldine Hamilton-Smith and her husband Stan, Russell J. Craig Jr. and his wife Jeanette, and Sylvia LaBonte all of Portsmouth, RI. She also leaves a sister Mary Soares of Attleboro, MA. She was the grandmother of Russell J. Craig III of Providence, Eric Snyder and his wife Stephanie of Portsmouth, R, Raymond Craig and his wife Danielle of Alabama, Ronald Snyder, Stephanie Gleeson, Albert LaBonte Jr., and Kelsey LaBonte all of Portsmouth, RI, as well as seven great grandchildren. She leaves two nephews and three great nephews, one great niece and three great great nieces and two great great nephews.She was the grandmother of the late Brien William Gleeson and the sister of the late Manuel Silvia. Her funeral will be held on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 9:00am from the Connors Funeral Home 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am in St. Anthonys Church, 2836 East Main Road, Portsmouth.Burial will be in Newport Memorial Park in Middletown.Calling hours will be held Monday evening from 4 - 7 pm in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Portsmouth Fire and Rescue Wagon Fund, 2300 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871