Manuel Estrella Medeiros

Manuel Estrella Medeiros, Age 91, of 125 Quaker Lane, Portsmouth, Rhode Island , formerly of Glen Meade Drive, Glen Acres, Portsmouth, Rhode Island died on January 18, 2008 at Robert's Health Centre in North Kingstown, Rhode Island after a short illness with his children by his side. He was the husband of the late Frances Faria Medeiros. Manny as he was fondly known was born in Fall River, MA on January 7, 1917, and was son of the late Manuel E. Medeiros Sr. and Maria Gloria Silvia Medeiros. He and his wife, Frances were married at Jesus Savior Church, Newport, Rhode Island on January 24, 1942, shortly after the U.S. entered World War II. Manny and Frances were married for 58 years before she passed away in April of 2000. In 1968 they moved from Green End Avenue, Middletown to Portsmouth's Common Fence Point where they lived until 1993 when they moved to Glen Acres, Portsmouth, R.I.He served in the U.S. Navy as a Torpedoman Second Class throughout World War II. Manny served in the Pacific Theatre and participated in the Battles of Iwo Jima, Okinawa, The Marshall Islands, The Gilbert Islands and the Liberation of the Phillipines. He was attached to the 3rd Fleet, USS Charette 581 1942-1943 and the 7th Fleet, USS Ault 698 1943-1945. Mannie served as a Torpedoman Instructor at the Newport Naval Base during the Korean War. After the Korean War ended, he worked at the Quonset Naval Air Station, North Kingstown, Rhode Island and then at the Naval Underwater Warfare Center, Newport Naval Base as a Civilian Ordinance Technician, assembling and testing underwater torpedoes until he retired at the age of 56 in 1973. During retirement Manny enjoyed home remodeling, the ocean, fishing and automobile trips. He often took his boat out with his children and grandchildren. He was a lover of nature, an avid gardener and a skilled carpenter and woodworker who enjoyed making small "special" chairs for his great grandchildren. He was the brother of the late Joseph Medeiros of Middletown, Rose Marshall of Portsmouth, Rhode Island and Mary LaPlume of Cumberland, Rhode Island. He is survived by a son, James J. Medeiros and his wife, Kathleen Spero Medeiros of Middletown, R.I.; a daughter, Jane F. Tavares and her husband, Daniel J. Tavares of Vernon, N.J.; 5 grandchildren, Keith D. Tavares of Newport, R.I., James M. Medeiros and his wife, Tracy Thalmann Medeiros of East Greenwich, R.I., Todd M. Tavares and his wife, Tiffany Visaggio Tavares of Vernon, N.J., Lisa Medeiros Ennis and her husband, Brendan Ennis of North Kingstown, RI, and Tracy Tavares Nelson and her husband, Carl Nelson of Wantage, N.J.; 12 great grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces and his caregiver Anna Jones of Portsmouth, Rhode Island and his dog and companion Bubbles.His funeral will be held on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at 9 am from Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth, RI followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am in St. Barnabas Church, 1697 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI. Burial with military honors will be in St. Columba Cemetery, Middletown, RI.Calling hours will be held 8-9 am the morning of the funeral in the funeral home.In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Robert's Health Centre, Activities Fund, 25 Roberts Way, North Kingstown, RI 02852.