Mary J. Lawrence

Portsmouth, RI - Mary Jean Silvia Lawrence, 81, of 1651 East Main Road, Portsmouth, died Thursday, August 26, 2004 at Newport Hospital Newport, RI.She was the wife of the late Oliver E. Lawrence. Born in Portsmouth, RI on August 31, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Manuel and Antonia Freitas Silvia. Mrs. Lawrence was the longest surviving Kidney Transplant patient in Rhode Island, receiving a kidney in 1974. She worked as an assembler at G.E. Monawatt and Transcom Inc. until retiring in 1972. Mrs. Lawrence enjoyed cooking for her family and friends and also baked cookies for the U.S. Troops overseas. She also cooked for the Circle of Friends and the for church functions. Mrs. Lawrence was a communicant of St. Barnabas Church. With her quiet time she liked to sit and read a good book. She is survived by her son Oliver E. Lawrence of Las Vegas, NV, two daughters Mary Jean Medeiros of Portsmouth, RI, and Carol F. Thorpe of Swansea, MA, three sisters Antoinette Berry of Englewood, FL, Angelina Ferro of Middletown, RI, and Olivia Leduc Campbell of Portsmouth, RI, two granddaughters Marlo Lawrence of Portsmouth, RI, and Carlene Lawrence of Las Vegas, NV, and a great grandson Trey Lawrence of Las Vegas, NV.She was the sister of the late Manuel Silvia Jr., Alfred Silvia, Maysie Furtado, and Delvida Arruda Robinson and the grandmother of the late Matthew Clay. Her funeral will be held on Saturday, August 28, 2004, at 9:00 AM from the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth, with a Mass of Christian burial at 10:00 AM in St. Barnabas Church, 1697 East Main Road, Portsmouth. Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery in Middletown. Donations in her memory may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, 11 Vanderbilt Avenue, Suite 105, Norwood, MA 02062-5056.