Joan Silvia Welcome

Joan Silvia Welcome, of Red Cross Ave, Newport, RI, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on Friday, October 1, 2010 at Newport Hospital, ICU, from a rare strain of pneumonia. Born in Fall River, MA on December 27, 1941, she was the daughter of the late Joseph P. and Olivia Marciel Coite Silvia. Joan loved life and family and made friends with everyone she met. She especially enjoyed gardening and the many trips to Block Island. Joan graduated from SUNY Oswego while in NY and upon her return to Newport she was the office manager for a local dentist for 23 years. She was also employed by the former Douglas Drug/Brooks/Rite Aide Pharmacies for 20 years. She received numerous awards for her outstanding customer care and service. She is survived by her loving son Brian C. Owens and his wife Ramona of Casey, IL and her grandchildren Brian Owens Jr. of Braintree, MA, PVT Michael Owens, US Army currently serving in Germany, and Cloe and Jacob Owens of Casey, IL. She is also survived by her sister Judy Metzler and her husband Mick of Portsmouth, RI; brother Alan Silvia and sister in law Veronica Breen, her niece Julie and nephew Adam Silvia, all of Portsmouth; and a half sisters June JJ Wilkinson of Holley, NY, and Blanche Holcombe of Reno, NV. Her sister Lauren Marie, half sister Pauline and half brother Arthur preceded her in death.Calling hours will be held Tuesday, October 5 from 4:00-7:00pm in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport.Her funeral will be held on Wednesday, October 6, at 9:00am with a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Marys Church, Spring Street and Memorial Boulevard, Newport. Burial will follow in Pocassett Hill Cemetery in Tiverton. Flowers are welcome, or memorial donations may be made to Child and Family Services, 31 John Clarke Rd, Middletown, RI 02842.