Roberta Dorothy (Henry) Dugan, 87, of 28 Carroll Avenue, Newport, RI, passed away peacefully on October 1, 2024, at home. She was born on June 14, 1937, the daughter of Katherine Maher Henry and Robert Russell Henry Sr. She was the wife of the late J. Peter Dugan Sr., sister to the late Barbara Ripa (Joe), Sharon Caine (Ray), and Robert Henry Jr. (Carol). She was preceded in death by her daughter Maureen and her brothers and sister-in-law Edward “Lard” Dugan (Claire) and Jerry Dugan Sr.
Roberta attended St. Catherine’s Academy and Rogers High School in Newport. She married Pete and immediately started a family. They lived briefly in Park Holm before moving to 28 Carroll Avenue for the remainder of their lives.
By the time Pete graduated from Providence College with a degree in Secondary Education, they were the parents of four children. When Pete was coaching at De La Salle or Middletown High School, she would root from the first baseline or the comfort of her station wagon.
She was an active member of local politics, working at the polls. When she wasn’t supporting her husband, Pete, in local politics in the 5th Ward, you could find her at the 5th Ward Little League concession stand or cheering on one of her many children.
Roberta was a troop leader for the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Brownies, and Girl Scouts. Her interests included knitting, watching the classics Matlock, Columbo, and Perry Mason, and hosting many family gatherings. She also enjoyed traveling with her husband Peter and her family. She was an active parishioner of St. Augustin’s Church until her health prevented her from crossing Carroll Avenue to the second row on the right-hand side, directly behind the Eucharistic Ministers and the late Sister Josephine.
Bert’s family was her most important passion. She leaves behind her 11 children: Katherine Martin (Michael), J. Peter Jr. (Nancy), Colleen Soares (Jay), Michael, Dennis (Celeste), Gary (Elizabeth), Shawn (Terri), Brian (Susan), Kerry (Erich), Erin (Michael), and Shannon, her sisters-in-law Mary Ferreira (Edward) and Carol Henry, 22 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren.
Visiting hours will be Sunday, October 6, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 pm at O’Neill-Hayes Funeral Home, 465 Spring St, Newport. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, October 7, 2024, at 10:00 am in St. Augustin’s Church, corner of Carroll & Harrison Ave, Newport. Burial will follow at St. Columba Cemetery, 465 Brown’s Ln, Middletown.
If you have a hand-knitted stocking made by Roberta and you’d like to bring it to the gathering after the mass and cemetery, it will be hung for all to enjoy as a reminder of the legacy she has left behind.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to St. Augustin’s Church at staugustinnewport.org or Visiting Nurse Home & Hospice at visitingnursehh.org.
For more information, please visit oneillhayes.com.
