Francis J. "Red" Sylvia

Middletown, RI - Francis "Red" Sylvia, 76, of Phillips Avenue, Middletown, RI, passed away on June 4, 2014 at home surrounded by his loving family. He leaves behind his loving wife Edna (Williams) Sylvia formerly of Rock Ferry, England, where they met and married while he was in security service in the US Air Force. Born in Newport, RI on April 7, 1938, he was the son of Frank Sylvia and Rose (Pasquale) Sylvia of Newport, RI both are deceased together with his sisters Geraldine Sylvia Gudoian and Rose Marie Sylvia. Red graduated from De La Salle in 1957 and joined the Air Force. He joined the Newport Police Department in 1965 and retired in 1998 after 33 years mostly patrolling the Fifth Ward and Ocean Drive for 24 Years. He received two medals for Valor (Heroism) and several commendations. Red was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 8. Besides his wife of 54 years, he leaves behind his children, twin sons Francis T. Sylvia and Dean J. Sylvia, Cindy A. Sylvia, and Michael S. Sylvia and his wife Mary Beth all of Middletown, RI, and his four grandchildren, Nicole E. Sylvia and Sarah Sylvia of East Providence, RI and Kara Sylvia and Mikey Sylvia of Middletown, RI.He was the father of the late Darran J. Sylvia and the brother of the late Geraldine Sylvia Gudoian and Rose Marie Sylvia.Calling hours will be held on Sunday, June 8, 2014, from 4-7pm in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport. His funeral will be held on Monday, June 9, 2014, at 8:00am, from the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 9:00am, in St. Lucys Church, 909 West Main Road, Middletown. Burial with Military honors will be in St. Columba Cemetery, Brown's Lane, Middletown.Donations in his memory may be made to American Cancer Society, 931 Jefferson Blvd, Suite 3004, Warwick, RI 02886 or to the FOP, Newport Lodge #8, 120 Broadway, Newport, RI 02840 Cemetery Details St. Columba Catholic Cemetery Brown's Lane Middletown, RI, 02842 Visitation JUN 8. 04:00 PM - 07:00 PM Memorial Funeral Home 375 Broadway Newport, RI, US, 02840 info@memorialfuneralhome.com http://www.memorialfuneralhome.com Service JUN 9. 09:00 AM St. Lucys Church 909 West Main Road Middletown, RI, US, 02842