O'Neill-Hayes Funeral Home

Marilyn Ann “Lyn” Kelley, 86 of Newport, RI passed away on December 24, 2023 at St. Clare Nursing Home following a lengthy illness. Lyn was the daughter of Rose (Toppa) Nelson and Frederick Nelson. After graduating from Saint Catherine’s Academy, she raised five children in Newport and then embarked on her journey through life, earning […]

Margaret F. “Peggy” Palmer 72, of Newport, RI and Longboat Key, FL, died peacefully on December 22, 2023, at her home with her family by her side. She was the loving wife of William V. Cooney, of 20 years. Born in Newport, RI on June 19, 1951, she was the daughter to the late Margaret […]

Theresa Wilson, 70 of Newport, RI passed away December 22, 2023, at Village House Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Newport. Born in Portsmouth, VA, she was a daughter of the late Jacob J. Wilson and Elizabeth (Murphy) Wilson. Theresa lived most of her life in Newport. She had a very sweet and loving personality. She […]

With great sadness we announce that Daniel Patrick Cleary, 21, tragically passed away on December 17, 2023 in Charlton, MA. Daniel was born in Attleboro, MA on July 8, 2002 to his proud parents Sean and Jennifer (Connolly) Cleary. His brother Brendon couldn’t wait to be his protective older brother. Daniel grew up in North […]

John L. “Jack” Sweeney, 88, of Newport, RI passed away December 7, 2023 in Newport. He was the husband of Lisa (Hoikala) Sweeney. Born October 14, 1935 in Roxbury, MA, he was the son of the late Lawrence T. Sweeney and Gertrude (McMorrow) Sweeney. Jack graduated from Bridgewater College with a bachelor’s degree and began […]

William E. O’Reilly, 75, of Newport, RI, died unexpectedly at his home on December 7, 2023. He was predeceased by his parents, Eugene, and Eileen (O’Connell) O’Reilly, and brothers, Joseph, John, and Brian O’Reilly. He left behind his wife of 46 years, Barbara O’Reilly (nee Prietzschk).  Bill loved his farm, Ballymachree, and spent many years […]

Brenda Margolis passed away on Monday, December 4, 2023, in Lewisville, Texas. She was 79. She was the wife of late Maurice Margolis. Whether family, friends or the thousands of strangers who flocked to eat her food, Brenda Margolis never met anyone she wasn’t happy to cook for. The daughter of the late Irving and […]

Jerome R. Kirby Jr. died on December 3, 2023. He was the son of the late Jerome R. Kirby and Ann Mulligan Kirby. He was predeceased by his wife of 66 years Helen C. Kirby, his sister Ann Kirby and brother James W. Kirby. Educated in Newport public schools, Jerry attended Portsmouth Priory and graduated […]

Constance “Connie” Sullivan McAuliffe was born in Newport, RI on September 1, 1932, to Cornelius and Catherine (Fagan) Sullivan, and passed peacefully on November 29, 2023, at the age of 91. Connie worked at St. Clare Newport for 25 years as an Activities Assistant until her retirement, while also serving as a hair stylist for […]

Rosalyn E. Schmelzer, 101, of Middletown, RI passed away on November 24, 2023 at Blenheim-Newport. Rosalyn was born in Poland to Saul Arbeit and Frieda (Kaswan) Arbeit on April 14, 1922. She went to high school at New Eutrecht High School in Brooklyn, NY, and graduated in 1938. She worked for Kirby Insurance for twenty-six […]

Patricia Ann Steel, the beloved wife of Robert (“Bill”) Steel, died peacefully at home in Portsmouth, RI, on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at the age of 93 ½, while under Hospice care. She was born on June 12, 1930, as the third of five siblings to the late Arthur Burke and the late Margaret (Owen) […]

Kathleen “Katie” (Kelly) Lawless, beloved sister, aunt, and friend, passed away on November 22, 2023, in Newport, Rhode Island at the age of 76. Born on September 26, 1947, Katie was the daughter of the late John Nicholas and Madeline Wilson Kelly. She grew up in a loving family with four siblings. Her brother Michael […]

Edward A. Skahill, 77, of South Kingstown, RI passed away at RI Hospital on October 7, 2023. He was the beloved husband of Janet (Norbury) Skahill for 46 years. Born in Quincy, MA, he was the son of the late Cmd. John J. Skahill and Marjorie (Wright) Skahill. Besides his wife, Edward leaves behind brothers […]

Beloved wife, stepmother, and Nana, Jennifer (Wignall) Tobin, of Bristol, RI died peacefully on October 7, 2023 following a lengthy illness. A Master Gardener, and lifelong nature enthusiast, Jennifer was aptly born in the throes of springtime, on May 5th, 1946, in Kent, “the Garden of England.” Her childhood held many happy memories of her […]

Sheila Bowman Graff, of Newport, RI passed away peacefully at St. Clare – Newport on Tuesday October 3, 2023. In her final days she enjoyed the caring comfort of the staff at St. Clare and Hope Hospice and the company of friends and family, especially her sister, Nancy Bowman of Williston, VT. Sheila Bowman Graff […]

Sr. Bernadette of Mary Immaculate Queen Lapre On Monday, September 25, 2023, Sister Bernadette Lapre gently and quietly went home to God at St. Clare Home in Newport, Rhode Island, where she had lived for 16 years. She is survived by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny, her sister Auora Lajoie and her brother […]

Patricia A. (Donovan) Sullivan, 90 of Newport, RI passed away on September 26, 2023 at Village House in Newport. She is preceded in death by her husband of 68 years Michael J. Sullivan. Born in Newport, RI on May 31, 1933 to the late Daniel Dixon Donovan and Gertrude Wedell. Pat attended St. Catherine’s Academy […]

Scott “Chucky” Hellquist of Newport, RI passed away at age 47 on September 23, 2023 after suffering a heart attack. He will be missed immensely and immeasurably. Scott was the dedicated and adoring father to Arabella Hellquist of North Kingstown, RI. Arabella was his best friend, closest confidant and favorite traveling partner. Just last year […]

Ralph E. Goddard, of Middletown, RI, known as Ted to his family and friends, died Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, at the Grand Islander Center, where he had resided for about a year because of declining health. Born in Newport on Feb. 1, 1942, he was the son of Emily P. (Egan) Goddard and Ralph “Pete” […]

Robert “Bob” Loughlin, 83, of Jamestown, RI, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 10, 2023. He was the beloved husband of Catherine (Clifford) Loughlin for 39 years, and the father of Robert Loughlin (Lori), Michol Ann Hutchison, Stephanie Sullivan (Michael), Samantha Domizlaff (Liam), and the proud grandfather of 10 grandchildren. Bob was born in Philadelphia, […]

John M. Martin Jr. of Newport RI, passed peacefully at Newport Hospital on September 9, 2023 with family members at his side. Born in Newport on April 12, 1950, Jack was the son of the late John Maloney “Peanuts” Martin & Mary (Murray) Martin. He was a true Fifth Warder. While at St. Mary’s School […]