Mary Elizabeth (Silva) Thomson

Mary Elizabeth (Silva) Thomson, age 87, of Algonquin Drive, Middletown died Thursday, July 16, 2015 at Village House Nursing Home of Newport, RI. She was the wife of David S. Thomson. Born in Natick, MA in May 1928, Mary Beth was a twin daughter of the late William Rogers Silva and the late Catherine T. (Quinn) Silva. The family later moved to West Roxbury, MA.She graduated from Roslindale High School and later earned her teaching degree from Boston Teachers College in 1949, teaching primary grades in Boston and Quincy, MA prior to joining the US Navy. She served as an officer in the US Navy WAVES during the Korean Conflict, and was stationed in the Bureau of Ordnance in Washington, DC.She and her family moved to Middletown in 1960 where she was an educator, community volunteer and homemaker. She taught in Newport, Middletown, and Portsmouth schools and her teaching career extended from elementary school classes to high school GED courses. She was caring and creative in her classroom teaching and took great pride in the accomplishments of her students.Later she was active as a volunteer at Newport Hospital, where she and her husband worked as a team to install Lifeline systems in the homes of elderly and disabled clients. She was a member of the Newport Hospital Auxiliary and the Edward King House Senior Center. Her community service activities included delivering meals to clients of Meals on Wheels, volunteering as a docent for the Preservation Society of Newport County, and serving as a Eucharistic Minister for Jesus Saviour Catholic Church, where she brought communion to hospital patients.Besides her husband David of 61 years, she leaves two sons William D. Thomson of Richmond, VA and his wife Michelle; Andrew G. Thomson of Bristol, RI and his wife Paula; six grandchildren, Jennifer, Victoria, David, Elizabeth, Angie and Carlos; two great grandchildren, Collin and Tessa; and a younger sister Janet M. Silva of Manchester, NH. She was preceded in death by her son Michael A. Thomson and her twin sister Catherine Ann Pucel.Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 from 9:30-10:30am in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00am in Jesus Saviour Church, 509 Broadway, Newport. Burial with Military Honors will follow at St. Columba Cemetery, Middletown.The family extends sincere thanks to the caring staff at Village house Nursing and Rehabilitation. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer's Association, RI Chapter, 245 Waterman St, Suite 306, Providence, RI 02906. Cemetery Details St. Columba Catholic Cemetery Brown's Lane Middletown, RI, 02842 Visitation JUL 22. 09:30 AM - 10:30 AM Memorial Funeral Home 375 Broadway Newport, RI, US, 02840 info@memorialfuneralhome.com http://www.memorialfuneralhome.com Service JUL 22. 11:00 AM Jesus Savior Church Broadway at Vernon Ave Newport, RI, US, 02840