Ethel M. Chafton

Portsmouth, RI, - Ethel M. (Sargent) Chafton, widow of BMCS Claywell M. Chafton USN has died. Born in Charlestown, MA on April 3, 1935, she was the third of four daughters of the late Harry J and Lillian (Neville) Sargent. Ethel was a volunteer in many organizations most of her adult life. She earned in 2000 her pin for sewing baby layettes for the Navy Relief. She was a den mother for Bluebirds Girls 8-2 as part of the Campfire Group Girls. She was a food server at two soup kitchens, St. Lucy's and St. Joseph's Church. She was an advisor for the Connell Manor Teen Association. Ethel has taught Sunday school and did various assignments for the CCD program for many years. As an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, she brought communion to the elderly at the Grand Islander Health Care Center for several years and going there three times a month. Ethel loved to crochet and made several items such as hats, mittens and slippers which she delivered to non-profit agencies to be given to children in need. She concentrated mainly on winter hats making them up until her death. After the death of her beloved husband, Ethel attended Salve Regina College and graduated Summa Cum Laude. She attended from 1975-1979 going full time while awaiting the birth of her first grandchild. Ethel belonged to a few groups for special reasons, mostly CPO Wife's Clubs, women whose husbands were Navy Chiefs and they met for lunch and a business meeting in which they performed service for other Navy people. As a member of Beta Sigma Phi International Sorority, she was twice named "A Woman of the Year" by the international office. She held the office of President, Secretary and Ways and Means Chairperson during her membership. As an associate of the Sisters of Mercy Ethel had pledged to follow the steps of its founder Catherine M. Cauly who believed in prayer in action "By Jesus Words" Love one another as I have loved you is how to follow Catherine.It was said by family that she dressed so fancy for church because she believed she had a "Date with God". All the young ladies and gentlemen she met, she would ask them to call her Mom, or Gram. This is how she felt of them. She also has been a foster Gram to a young lady through Christian Charities named Angela for many years. She would send money for her school supplies, school uniforms, and even a bed. She also would send money to Angela's family to help out. She was one of the kindest and generous ladies that you could ever meet. A strong willed woman in her own right due to raising three teens on her own in her 30's, she will be truly missed by all. Ethel is survived by her oldest son, Claywell M. Chafton II and his wife Karen of Tiverton, RI, five grandsons, Thomas and Joseph Gore, Richard and Lucas Chafton and Claywell Chafton III, six great grandchildren, Bradley, Tanya and Max Gore, Joshua Rankk, and Chelsea and Charlotte Chafton, her best loved sister Dorothea Davis of Pasadena, TX, her precious niece Lyndia Vizi of Swaineboro, GA and her two best friends Carmilla Achilles and Ann Simas.She was the mother of the late Richard Chafton, Sr. and Lynda R. Chafton-Gore and the sister of the late Lillian Russ and Irene Emerson.Her funeral will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at 9:00am in St. Lucys Church, 909 West Main Road, Middletown. Burial will be private.In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312. Service MAY 21. 09:00 AM St. Lucys Church 909 West Main Road Middletown, RI, US, 02842