The Portsmouth Garden Club
Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Memorials: Remembering those who have passed
The friendship and hard work of our recently deceased members are sorely missed.
_______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Barbara Stenning 1928-2020
Barbara June Stenning, a direct descendent of Captain John Luther who arrived in
America in 1630, died peacefully at home on November 23, 2020. Married on June 28, 1952, she was the wife of Gordon J. Stenning. Born August 12, 1928, in Johnston, RI, she was the daughter of the
late Howard C. Luther, Sr and Mildred (Graves) Luther. Barbara attended the Providence and Cranston school systems. She Graduated Cranston High School in 1946 and went onto attend Bryant College.
She was awarded the degree of PHT from the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, MA. Barbara contracted Polio in 1952, the first year of her marriage. Her polio developed into Post Polio
Syndrome later in her life. She worked as a Senior Bookkeeper and Payroll Clerk for Crown Worsted Mills in Providence, RI. Barbara then worked at the Baker Library at Harvard Business School from
1952-1955. She went on to work as a bookkeeper for Malcolm E. Berrett, PE, in 1968 -1975 and before retiring she worked for Wilby's Fabric Store from 1975 -1988. Barbara loved music and singing
for thirty-one years in the St. Mary's Choir in Portsmouth. She started the Bell Choir and their Thrift Shop. She also started the Country Store booth at St. Mary's Annual Lawn Party and the
Annual Parish Show at Saint Mary's.
In addition to welcoming any and all to Saint Mary's rectory, she held an Open House at the Rectory which developed into a Christmas tradition. Thirty-one were held while at the parish. She
continued having Christmas Open Houses in Southport, Connecticut and into retirement. Barbara was a member and officer of the Portsmouth Garden Club and for years she was the Hospitality
Committee for the Pheasant Hill Neighborhood Association. An excellent cook, she ran the food program of Trinity Church, Southport to feed homeless men in Fairfield, Connecticut. Besides cooking
she enjoyed all forms of sewing.
In addition to her husband Gordon, she leaves her children Mark L. Stenning of Newport, RI and Pamela S. Caudill and her husband Charles of East Haven, CT. Barbara is also survived by her
grandchildren, Christopher Stenning of East Greenwich, RI, Emily Hughes and her husband Matthew of Bristol, RI, John S. Callahan of Chestnut Hill, PA and Elizabeth Callahan and her wife MaryKate
of Avenel, NJ as well as her beloved Molly. She was preceded in death by her brother Howard C. Luther Jr. Gordon asked the following old prayer end Barbara's obituary as it sums up her life so
well-
We thank thee, O God, for this thy servant Barbara patient in tribulation; rejoicing in hope; continuing instant in prayer; not slothful in business; given to hospitality. Having fought the good
fight and kept the faith, grant to her, we beseech thee the crown of life that fadeth not away; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Due to Covid restrictions, Funeral Services will be private
In lieu of flowers donations may be given to St. Mary's Church, 324 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871 or St.Paul's Church, 2679 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871
For additional information, please visit www.memorialfuneralhome.com
To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.
Published in Newport Daily News from Nov. 25 to Nov. 28, 2020.
Cecelia P. Borden
Cecelia (Pearce) Borden, 105, of Portsmouth passed away on January 6, 2020, at the Grand Islander Nursing Home in Middletown, RI.
She was the wife of the late Robert MacCormick and the late Richard Borden.
Born on February 12, 1914, she was the daughter of the late Cecelia Crocker Pearce and Richard Benjamin Pearce originally from England. She was the sister of the late Richard Pearce and Barbara
Haynes.
She is survived by her nieces Pam Pitt of North Kingstown RI, Valerie Records of Warwick, RI, and Susan Ozbek of Warwick, RI. Nephews Richard Haynes of North Kingston, RI and Dave Pearce of North
Kingstown, RI. She is also survived by her step son, John Borden of Portsmouth, RI and step daughter Nancy Borden Weida of Portsmouth, RI, in addition to many great nieces, nephews, and step
grandchildren.
Ce, as she was known by many, was a woman full of life and the joy of finding happiness wherever she was. She attended high School in Chicago and upon moving to Rhode Island became a successful
secretary at the Gladding's Department Store in Providence. She lived in Cranston, RI and moved on to Portsmouth, RI in her charming home on Porters Lane with her husband Bob. There, she
established lovely gardens and long lasting friendships. She was an active member of the Portsmouth Garden Club for many, many years.
She enjoyed visiting with her sister Barbara at the "beach house" in the summer in RI as well as shopping and birthday celebrations with nieces Valerie, Pam & Susan.
Never one to shy away from a challenge or hard work, she spent many hours working with her husband Richard and step son John at the family owned Borden Farm apartments in Portsmouth. She would
sometimes wallpaper or paint till late at night when necessary to get an apartment ready for rental. She paid all the expenses, helped manage the property and acted as bookkeeper till 98 years
old.
Ce belonged to the YMCA in Barrington, RI where she would meets friends to swim and attend aerobics classes 3 days a week well into her 90's. Afterwards they would go to Newport Creamery for
lunch and coffee ice cream.
An exceptionally generous person with both her money and her time she often participated in organizations with the aim of serving people. She volunteered with the Heart Association and did the 10
mile walk for hunger in Newport sponsored by Trinity Church.
She became a member of the Evangelical Friends Church in Middletown, RI and worshipped there since the early 1970's. She spent decades serving on the hospitality committee, attended services
regularly, cared for the young children of church goers in the nursery and attended regional conference meetings in Ohio. In the summer she would do outreach with children and adults in a camp
setting in Portsmouth, RI.
Her love for animals was well known and at times adopted up to five cats to provide them with good homes. Her connection to the Potter Animal League in Middletown is ongoing.
An avid traveler, Ce had been to Jerusalem, Africa and Turkey along with many destinations in America. She especially enjoyed visiting Atlanta to visit dear friends and relatives.
Always on the go and driving well into her late 90's, she enjoyed meeting friends for coffee and breakfast at Reidy's and Food Works Restaurants in Portsmouth.
The family would like to thank the Grand Islander Nursing Home for Ce's exceptional care and compassion for the past several years.
An ever -positive person who loved people, her friends and family she will be sorely missed.
Calling hours will be held on Wednesday January 15, 2020, from 4-7 pm in Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth.
Her funeral will be held on Thursday January 16, 2020, at 11:00 am, in Friends Evangelical Church, 70 Bliss Road, Middletown.
Burial will be in St. Mary's Churchyard, 324 East Main Road, Portsmouth.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Potters League for Animals in Middletown, RI
Published in Newport Daily News from Jan. 10 to Jan. 14, 2020
OBITUARY FOR EVELYN MARE SCHULZ
Evelyn Mare Schulz, of Portsmouth, RI, passed away peacefully in her sleep with her family at home on Wednesday, April 10, 2019.
Born on March 31, 1927 at home in Portsmouth, RI , she was the youngest daughter of Immigrants from the Azorean Islands in Portugal, João Virginho Mare and Maria C Mare of the island of São Miguel. She was the beloved wife of Paul William Schulz for 56 years until his death in 2013. They married in 1957, built a homestead in Portsmouth and raised two daughters, Maria Mare Schulz and Dr Mona Lisa Schulz. She and her husband also took an active role in raising their two grandchildren, Paul Van Anglen and Jessica Gallipeau.
Evelyn graduated from St Catherine’s Academy in 1945 while working at the torpedo factory on Goat Island during WWII. She also worked for the State of RI for 20 years. After her retirement, she and her husband Paul developed two successful businesses, Paul Schulz Construction and Floral Designs by Evelyn Schulz.
Evelyn was fluent in Portuguese, and German, and used both to further live a full life. She was an active member and President of the New England German Saengerbund and was lauded for her organization and team building to promote and preserve German American heritage. She (and her family) were among founding and active members " of the Aristides De Sousa Mendes Society, uniting and preserving Portuguese Jewish heritage in the diaspora, visiting Portugal twice at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Portugal and the mayor of Lisbon.
She and her husband also travelled extensively by ship, crossing the globe twice over the years. She took great pride in the fact that she visited every continent but Antarctica.
She was a lifelong horticulturist with extensive gardens which included rare and unusual tree and plant specimens. Additionally, a lifelong member of the Portsmouth Garden Club and the RI Federation of Garden Club, she served as President of both organizations. She is well remembered for her sharp wit, sense of humor, and undaunted determination to get things done.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 22, 2019 at St Barnabus Church, 1697 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI, at 10 am in the community center and 11 am upstairs in the sanctuary. Burial will follow at St Columba Cemetery, Browns Lane, Middletown, RI.
Friends and family are invited to visit after the funeral at the home of Evelyn’s daughter Maria in Tiverton from 2-6pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to the Visiting Nurse Home and Hospice, 1184 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871.
As Spring was Evelyn’s favorite season and all spring flowers among her favorites, friends and family are invited to “bring a bunch” for the funeral. She would love nothing more.
__________________________________________________
Obituary for Lillian Margaret Cerce
She was born in Fall River on April 23, 1927, to Joseph and Mabel(Wall)Read. She was the last of 10 children and grew up in the north end, graduating from BMC Durfee High School. She was the wife of the late George A. Cerce and they settled in the Bristol Ferry area of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, where they built a home.
Together with George she was an active member of the Tiverton Yacht Club for many years. She was also a member and past president of the Portsmouth Garden Club. Before moving to Florida, in 1980, she and George owned and operated the Tiverton Boathouse. In Naples, she and George were active members of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church where she was a member of the CCW.
She leaves many nieces, nephews and friends in the Rhode Island and Massachusetts area.
Graveside services will be held on Tuesday Sept. 4, 2018, at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Fall River, at 11:00 0’clock with Father Robert Murphy.
Madeline Beaucage
She grew up on a farm in rural Maine. She moved to Springfield, Massachusetts before a move to Portsmouth in 1969. Madeline worked in retail for many years before beginning Cat's Home Companion, one of the first businesses of its kind providing in-home cat care.
She was an award-winning gardener and floral arranger as well as an avid photographer. She was passionate about cats, gardening, and her community.
Included in her many contributions to the community, Madeline was past President of the Portsmouth Garden Club and Chapter 869 of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) as well as being an active member of the Portsmouth Historical Society, and, in the 1970s, the Portsmouth High School Band Boosters. Madeline took a leadership role in the early efforts to restore the Brown House at the Glen in Portsmouth.
Madeline is survived by her son, Gregory Beaucage, of Cincinnati, Ohio, his wife, Jean, and their three children; her son-in-law, Richard Bushey of Weymouth, Massachusetts; her daughter-in-law, Lee; nieces and nephews. She also leaves many cherished friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Robert; her son, Ronald; her daughter, Cheryl Bushey; her brothers, Garfield and Elmer (Bud) Goding; and sisters Vera Pickle, Flora Bragdon, Evelyn Wyman, and Mary Kyes; her cousin, Lin Pickle, and other treasured friends and relatives.
A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 14th, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. in the narthex at St. Anthony Church in Portsmouth. Burial will follow at Trinity Cemetery.
Published in Newport Daily News on Aug. 10, 2018
_______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________