Ellen Frances Dennett

Newport, RI - Ellen Frances Nicholson Dennett, 88, of West Narragansett Avenue, Newport, died Monday, July 11, 2011 at home with her family.She was the wife of the late Michael Dennett. Born in Newport, on Aug. 23, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Walter and Ellen F. Ferry Nicholson.During World War II, Mrs. Dennett worked at the Newport Naval Torpedo Station and was later employed as a bookkeeper at Dannin Mendell for 32 years, retiring in 2001. She was a communicant of St. Augstins Church, a former volunteer with the Mosaic Club, of Newport where she enjoyed reading to elementary schoolchildren; a former volunteer at Newport Hospital and was also a member of VFW Post #4487 Ladies Auxiliary of Middletown. She mostly enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is survived by her children, Cherie Saunders and her husband, Paul, of Newport, RI, Claire LaShomb and her husband, Jay, of Brasher Falls, NY, Dianne Peters and her husband, Harvey, of Portsmouth, RI, Nancy Bowley and her significant other, Michael Gullison, also of Portsmouth, RI, and Michael M. Dennett of Middletown, RI; 11 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and her sister, Jean Winthrop of Middletown, RI. She was predeceased by her sisters, Elizabeth Sullivan and Sarah Silvia. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, July 14, 2011, from 5-8 pm in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, RI.Her funeral will be held on Friday, July 15, 2011 at 9 am from Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am in St. Augustins Church, Carroll Avenue, Newport.Burial will follow in Newport Memorial Park in Middletown. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to VNS Hospice of Newport Bristol Counties, 1184 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871.