Rose D. Finn

Rose D. (Folsom) Finn "Rosie the Riveter", 93 1/2, of Newport died Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at St. Clare Home in Newport, RI. Born on August 10, 1921 in Worcester, MA, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Sadie Folsom. Mrs. Finn worked at the torpedo station, where her children still believe that it was her job to test the torpedoes by biting the ends of them.She later worked for and retired from the Newport Naval Hospital as the director of the CHAMPUS program, wherein she served and brought relief to countless Naval personnel and their families.Mrs. Finn loved animals and served her community as a wildlife rehabilitator on Aquidneck Island, rescuing scores of injured and orphaned wildlife. One of her greatest joys was releasing rehabilitated animals back into the wild.She is survived by her son John D. Finn of Coventry, RI and her daughter, Jeanne (Finn) Timpson of Dartmouth, MA. She was also the mother of the late James C. Finn. She was the grandmother of Wendy Finn the late James Finn.We take comfort in the belief that Gerri, as her family and friends knew her, now soars with the beloved gulls she once rehabbed and set free.Memorial donations may be made to the RI Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, 25 Shermantown Rd, Saunderstown, RI 02874 or riwildliferehab.org