Laura Silvia Thomas

Newport, RI - Laura Silvia Thomas, 89, of 125 Old Fort Road, Newport, RI, died Monday, October 2, 2006 at home under the loving care of her daughter Suzanne. She was the wife of Walter Eugene Thomas of Newport. Born on Aquidneck Ave in Middletown, RI on October 14, 1916, she was the daughter of the late Manuel Francisco DaSilva and Maria Miguel Francisco DaSilva. Laura grew up in Newport and attended the Witherbee School and Rogers HS. She married Walter E. Thomas on March 31, 1942 in St. Joseph?s Church in Newport. Soon after their marriage, Walter and Laura were assigned to Chincoteague, VA in the Navy, and were later moved to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where they lived for three years. Upon returning to Newport, they settled in the Fifth Ward and Mrs. Thomas became active with St. Augustin?s Church. She participated in the choir and many of the church community activities. Throughout her adult life, she was a proficient gardener and grew vegetables and most notably African Violets. She loved her dogs, and was known in the neighborhood for baking and giving away her blonde brownies. Earlier in her life she was a talented knitter and would create everything from afghans to mittens. She also could be seen wearing beautiful hats, always matching her outfit. At one point she took up walking and soon walked the entire Ocean Drive nearly every day. Through these walks she began cleaning up the streets and disposing of refuse. For this civic commitment, she was nominated for a Jefferson Award and was given a commendation from the City of Newport for her efforts. A plaque was commissioned by her son Steven at the Newport Fisherman?s Monument at Brenton Point to commemorate her efforts to Newport. She is survived by her husband of 64 years Walter E. Thomas of Newport, RI , a son Walter Thomas III and his wife Donna of Charlestown, RI, a daughter Suzanne L. Thomas LeFevre and her husband M. Dee LeFevre of Young, AZ and a son Steven Thomas and his wife Beth Ann of Freetown, MA, and nine grandchildren: Abigail and Andrew Thomas, Laura LeFevre Burgener, Melissa LeFevre Cahoon, Michael LeFevre, Dawn Pickeral, Tiffany Skinner, Walter Thomas IV, Shawn and Amber Thomas, and 14 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by seven siblings: Manuel Silvia, Mary Shaw, Rose Sant, John Silvia, Emily Smith, Flora Lightfoot and Frank Silvia. Her funeral will be held on Friday, October 6, at 9:00am from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am in St. Augustins Church, Carroll Avenue, Newport. Burial will be in St. Columbas Cemetery in Middletown.Calling hours will be held Thursday, October 5 from 6:00-9:00pm in the Memorial Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to Visiting Nurse Service- Hospice, 1184 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871.