Mary Mendonca Elshant

Middletown, - Mary A. Mendonca Elshant, Middletown?s Oldest Resident, 106, of 546 Jepson Lane, Middletown, died Tuesday, July 20, 2004 at home.She was the wife of the late Manuel Elshant. Born in San Miguel, Azores on February 21, 1898, she was a daughter of the late Francisco and Maria Perreira Mendonca. Mrs. Elshant came to the United States at the age of eight. She attended the Middletown Schools. She was a Communicant of Jesus Saviour Church. Mrs. Elshant was active in the Portsmouth PTA while her children were in school. She was a member of the American Legion Auxillary Post #18 of Portsmouth, RI. Mrs. Elshant enjoyed her family, and loved gardening, canning, cooking, and needlepoint. She is survived by two sons George E. Elshant of Middletown, RI, and Eugene R. Elshant of Portsmouth, RI, three daughters Virginia C. Carrellas of Newport, RI, Mary D. Elshant of Middletown, RI, and Arleen C. Silveira of Middletown, RI, and Seminole, FL, two brothers Antone Mendonca of Portsmouth, RI, and George Mendonca of Portsmouth, RI, one sister Virginia Mendonca of Portsmouth, RI, 16 Grandchildren, 36 Great Grandchildren, 10 Great Great Grandchildren. She was also the mother of the late Alfred F. Elshant, and brother of the late Frank L. Mendonca, Joseph Mendonca, Margaret Mendonca, and Angelina Cotta. Her funeral will be held Saturday, July 24, 2004, at 9:00 AM from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM in Jesus Saviour Church, Broadway And Vernon Avenue, Newport. Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery, Brown?s Lane, Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to the Visiting Nurse Services of Newport and Bristol Counties, 1184 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI, 02871.