In Memoriam

Mario Ciotola 76, a lifelong resident of Smithfield passed away on July 15, 2021 peacefully with family by his side at the Hope Hospice Center in Providence, RI. He was born to Michele and Maria Bucci Ciotola of Smithfield on February 19, 1945. Mario attended the Irving S. Cook Elementary School and graduated from North Providence High School.

Mario was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He enrolled into the Air Force and was stationed Clark Air Force base in Angeles City, Philippines. Mario received education for and served as a specialty Aircraft Electrical Navigation Equipment Repairman. He was honorably discharged in June 23, 1969. He returned to the US and served on the Smithfield Police Force until he retired after his 20 years of service. After retiring from the force, Mario was a security guard at Twin River Casino in Lincoln until his official retirement in 2010. Mario was a well-respected officer for the town of Smithfield as well as a member of the Smithfield Sportsman’s Club for many years.

Mario is survived by his wife of 52 years, Jean Hagupit Ciotola. With Jean he had 2 children, Jean Marie Ciotola (who passed from cancer March 7, 2012) and Catherine Ciotola Holroyd both of Smithfield. Mario also leaves his two grandchildren, Max Holroyd and Mia Holroyd; his Son-in Law Brian Holroyd as well as several loving brother/sister in laws, cousins, and a host of friends.

The funeral will be 8:45 am Thursday from the A.A. MARIANI & SON Funeral Home, 200 Hawkins Street, Providence, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am at St. Michael’s Church, 80 Farnum Pike, Smithfield. Burial with military honors will follow in St. Francis Cemetery, Pawtucket. Visiting hours are Wednesday, 4–7 pm. marianiandson.com.

Vincent J. O’Connell, Jr., 93, of Smithfield, RI, passed away on November 10, 2020 after a long illness.
Born and raised in Providence, he was married to the late Mary (nee Hunt) O’Connell.

He is survived by Roderick J. Kennedy, retired Special Agent of the FBI, of Pinehurst, NC, Paul T. Kennedy, retired Lt. of RI State Police and his wife Ann (nee Izzy) of Cranston, RI, granddaughters Julie Kennedy of Cranston and Sarah Kennedy of Boston, MA, two great grandchildren Elizabeth and Ericka, and Elizabeth’s children Cameron and Lilyann. He is also survived by his long time companion Angela Rossi of North Providence.

Vincent served in the US Navy in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. He then returned to Providence and completed his high school education and joined the Providence Police Department, rising to the rank of Detective Captain, where he headed the detective division before retiring in 1974. He then moved to Smithfield as the Chief of Police, retiring in 1979. Mr. O’Connell established a successful detective agency until finally retiring to enjoy his love of traveling and lounging with his companion at his house in Matunuck, RI.

Vincent’s visitation will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2020 from 12 – 2 pm in the Russell J. Boyle & Son Funeral Home, 331 Smith Street Providence. Funeral Service will begin at 2pm. Burial, with military honors will follow in Highland Memorial Park, Johnston.

Edgar Louis Williams, of Burlington, KY passed away on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 at St. Elizabeth Hospice Center in Edgewood, KY at the age of 80.

He was born in North Providence, RI on October 11, 1939; the son of the late Edgar and Irene Williams. Edgar was a proud United States Army Veteran and worked in law enforcement having retired from the Smithfield, RI police department. He had been attending Beaver Lick Baptist Church and enjoyed traveling and cooking.

Edgar was preceded in death by his daughter, Barbara Rotando and his sister, Irene Patterson.

Those surviving to carry on Edgar’s legacy include his loving wife of 10 years, Brenda Williams; sister, Joyce St. Jean; 3 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; as well as many other close relatives and friends who are now emptier upon his passing.

A visitation celebrating Edgar’s life will take place from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM on Friday, September 25, 2020 at Chambers & Grubbs Funeral Home, 45 North Main Street, Walton, KY 41094. Due to the current Covid-19 state restrictions, the mandatory wearing of face masks is required, temperatures will be taken upon entering the facility and attendance will be limited to 50% of our funeral home’s capacity, while still maintaining 6 feet of social distancing. A funeral service will immediately follow at 1:00 PM at the funeral home. In keeping with Edgar’s wishes, he will then be cremated and laid to rest in his home state of Rhode Island.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Edgar’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Cheryl Ann Corsa-Crook, 61, passed away Monday, July 8, 2019 at the Coventry Skilled Nursing. Born in Richmond, Virginia, she was a beloved daughter of Virginia (Robinson) and the late Clayborn Corsa; devoted mother of Ian Crook and his wife, Heather, and Jared Crook; sister of Sidney Corsa, Ellen Fleetwood, and Christopher Corsa; loving grandmother of Lilyana and Declan Crook. Cheryl was employed as a Police Dispatcher for the Cranston Police Department and the Smithfield Police Department. She was a member of the Laborers International Union of North America Local #1217. Cheryl enjoyed spending time with her family and grandchildren, butterflies, her dogs Sassy and Max, and was a wine connoisseur.

Her funeral service will be held Friday, July 12, 2019 at 10 AM from the Thomas & Walter Quinn Funeral Chapel, 2435 Warwick Ave. Burial will be in All Saints Cemetery, Warwick. Visiting hours Thursday, 4-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the ALS Association, 2374 Post Road, #103, Warwick, RI 02889 will be appreciated.

Neil Benjamin “Bud, Tubby” Tubman, Retired Sergeant, Smithfield Police Department, 87, of Continental Road, Greenville, passed away of natural causes Wednesday, May 23, 2018. Neil was being visited and comforted by family members at Hebert Nursing Home in Smithfield, RI at the time of his passing. He was the loving husband of Jean M. (Sprague) Tubman for 68 years.

Neil was born in Taunton, Massachusetts on May 8, 1931. He was the eighth child of Benjamin S. Tubman and Susan E. (Abbott) Tubman and was preceded in death by his siblings David, Ruth, George, Esther, Donald, Eleanor, Joyce and Philip.
Besides his wife, he is survived by three of his children: Gail Dunbar and her husband, Steve of Greenville, South Carolina, Susan Williams and her husband, Ronald of Johnston and Ronald Tubman and his wife, Gina of Smithfield. He was also the father of the late Karen Robitaille.

Neil also leaves 14 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. He was extremely proud of his family and one of his favorite things to do at family gatherings would be to look around at everyone and proclaim “without me, none of you would be here!”

Neil spent his younger years in Cranston and Warwick, Rhode Island before being married to Jean Sprague in 1950. After living in Providence for a short while they settled in Greenville where they lived together for the better part of seven decades.

From a young age Neil had an interest in cars which led to him managing, then owning several local service stations. While he enjoyed the automotive business Neil found his calling when he became a “special” on the Smithfield Police Department while it was still located in the basement of the Smithfield Town Hall. After a year or so Neil took a permanent position with the “Force” as he called it. Rising through the ranks, he ultimately earned the rank of Sergeant, or “Sarge” as his fellow officers and friends called him. Retiring from the force due to illness, Neil would look back fondly on his years as an officer and loved to reminisce with friends and family about the old days when he and Artie “The Chopper” Williams”, Bobby LaChapelle, Jimmy McVey, Frenchy LeBeau, Holly Gates, Red Williams, Joe Larkin and the rest of the force patrolled the mean streets of Smithfield. Neil ended his working days employed by South Auburn Oil Company in Cranston. He enjoyed his retirement visiting with friends and family.
Anyone who knew him, whether as Neil, Bud or Tubby will tell you he was larger than life and that he was always the first to offer help or lend a hand when someone was in need. The world is a slightly quieter place with him gone and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Visiting hours will be held Sunday, May 27, 2018 from 3pm to 5pm in the Anderson-Winfield Funeral Home, Rt 44 at Greenville Common, Greenville with a short funeral service starting at 5pm. Burial will be private.