All Tributes

Patricia R. Murphy, 86, of 22 Elm Street, Westerly, RI, died after a brief illness on Monday, September 20, 2021. Mrs. Murphy was born September 11, 1935, in Montclair, NJ, the eldest of the late C. Norman and Mary Lewis Reeves' seven children. As a child, Mrs. Murphy moved with her family to Wheeling, WV. In 1953, she graduated from Villa Duchesne Convent of the Sacred Heart in St. Louis, where she excelled in art and tennis. At Rosemont College, Mrs. Murphy captained the tennis team...

James A. Cute, 82, passed away on Friday, September 17, 2021 in Westerly, RI.  He grew up on a farm in South Attleboro, MA and raised his family in Pawtucket, RI.  He was the son of the late James A. and Lillian A. (Rick) Cute. Jim worked 33 years as a union carpenter with the Rhode Island Carpenters Union Local 330 (formerly 94). He had a passion for vegetable gardening and enjoyed watching cooking shows,  recreating and cooking those meals to perfection.  He loved...

Russell R. Chipperfield, Jr. 84, of Lancaster, PA, passed away peacefully on September 17, 2021, at his home. He was the husband of the late Nancy (Bennett) Chipperfield (1939 – 2014). Born in Fall River, MA on February 1, 1937, he was the son of the late Russell Sr. and Henrietta (Pillmear) Chipperfield Russell served in the U.S. Army in the late 1950s, at which time he was stationed in Germany. After his tour was complete, he returned to the States, got married and settled in North...

Frederick Semler “Sem” Dieterich, Jr., 82, of Hope Valley, passed away peacefully in Westerly RI hospice care surrounded by his family on Thursday, September 16, 2021. Born in Glen Ridge, NJ on October 15, 1938, he was the only son of the late Frederick Semler Dieterich Sr. and his wife Dorothy (Ryan) Dieterich. He was a graduate of The Peddie School and Denison University. In 1998 he finally married his soul mate and true love, the late Kayte (Spitler) Dieterich. Sem spent the...

Joyce C. Irwin-Stanton, 79, formerly of Ashaway, passed away on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at South County Hospital. She was the wife of the late Gerold E. Stanton. Born in Westerly on June 30, 1942, she was the daughter of the late Carroll Frederick and Lois May (Larkin) Burdick. Joyce drove school bus for the Chariho School District for many years then worked for VNS of Wakefield before ending her employment as a Medical Administrator in Westerly. She was a hard worker but always made...

William “Bill” R. McAvoy, 94, of North Stonington, CT passed away on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at Masonicare at Mystic. He was the husband of the late Betsy (Smith) McAvoy. Born in Norwich, CT on January 24, 1927, he was the son of the late Daniel and Levina (Stott) McAvoy. Bill served his country proudly while stationed in the South Pacific during WWII in the U.S. Navy. He was also called again to service during the Korean War while he was a part of the Navy Reserves....

Joyce Patricia O’Connor, 42, of Westerly, passed away unexpectedly at home on September  8th, 2021. Joyce was born in Queens, NY to John J. O’Connor and the late Patricia A. (Lyons) O’Connor on May 12th, 1979. Joyce was a loving mother, daughter, sister, cousin and friend. She will be deeply missed by her two children, Nicholas J. O’Connor and Jacob P. O’Connor of Westerly. She will also be greatly missed by her father John O’Connor and her brother...

William E. Perrin, 81, of Ashaway, passed away on September 7, 2021. Born in Westerly, Rhode Island on November 7, 1939, he was the son of the late Grant W. Perrin and Eleanor M. (Hoxsie) Perrin. William retired after 20 years of service with the United States Air Force. He retired as a TSGT working as an investigator in the Office of Special Investigations. After retiring from the service, William worked with Aetna Pumps, Inc. and UBS Building Supplies as a truck driver before retiring....

Christine C. Gillis, daughter of the late Hazel (Strong) Morgan, passed away peacefully on September 5, 2021 at the Silver Bluff Village in Canton, NC. Christine was born on June 24, 1934 in Greenfield, MA the daughter of the William T. Clark and Hazel S. Morgan. She grew up in Greenfield, MA, Schenectady, NY, New London, CT and North Stonington, CT. She graduated from New London High School with the class of 1952. Christine lived and raised her family in Ledyard, CT. She worked for several...

Richard Alton Perry, Sr, 71, of North Stonington, passed away on September 4, 2021. Born in Westerly, Rhode Island on February 12, 1950, he was the son of the late Russell Norman Perry and Shirley Mae (Main) Perry.    Richard owned his own business where he worked doing home repair and landscaping. He was the happiest when he was fixing or doing things with his hands. When his health required him to step away from his business, he...