Bertha Mae (Picard) Coleman, 95 , of Westport, MA, formerly of Mail Coach Road, Portsmouth, RI, died on Friday August 16, 2024 at Clifton Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, in Somerset, MA.

She was the wife of the late William Anthony Coleman.

Born in Providence, RI on May 14, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Roland and Millrena (Tootle) Picard.

Mrs. Coleman was a 1947 graduate of the former Jesus Mary Academy in Fall River, MA. She was a secretary for Roma Color (U.M.M.M.) in Fall River for 21 years retiring in 1991. Mrs. Coleman was a member of RISD Museum. She was a member of the Newport Hospital Auxiliary, a former volunteer with the Child Care Seat Program and a member of the Redwood Library in Newport, RI.

She is survived by four nieces, Doranne Ross & Karen Carpenter both of Nantucket, Bonnie Sue Menard and Elaine Sherman both of New Hampshire; a nephew, Brian Picard; her godchildren, Ryan, Debra, Donna and Doranne; her sister-in-law, Doris Picard of Nantucket; and several dear cousins and many lifelong friends.

She was the sister of the late Roland Picard and the aunt of the late Roland Picard, Jr.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Marc Theroux, Mary A. Pauline, Frank Costa, Judi Botelho as well as the staff at Clifton Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

Visitation with the family will be held on Thursday August 22, 2024 from 10- 11:00 am in Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, RI, with a service at 11:00am in the funeral home. Burial will be private.

Donations to the Wounded Warrior Project PO Box 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675-8517

Condolences, directions and information available at www.memorialfuneralhome.com

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Bertha Coleman, please visit our flower store.

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...

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