John Dante Martone | November 15, 2016 | Obituary
John Dante Martone
November 15, 2016 | Obituary
John Dante Martone of West Warwick, Rhode Island passed away on November 15, 2016. John led a long and full life filled with more joy than sorrow, more enjoyment than boredom, more friends than foes, and more lasagna than lemons, although he loved lemons too. When he reflected on his life, he spoke glowingly of his dear mother Giuseppina and strong father Bernardino, his constant companion and lovely wife of 65 years, Palma (Polly) and his daughter Kimberly and her beloved fiancée, Lincoln. The middle child of six children, he survived his five siblings, (Giovannina) Janet, Antonio (Anthony), Giacomo (Jack), Quirino (Gary) and Lucia (Lucille). He also survived his beloved son-in-law, Christopher Morrison.
John Martone was born on February 22, 1927 when Calvin Coolidge was President and passed on November 15, 2016 when Barack Obama was President. John was a lifelong, staunch Democrat with the exception of his possible vote for President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
John volunteered for the United States Navy on the day before his 18th birthday, forgoing his high school graduation, but later earning his equivalency. He served his Nation under arms on the U.S.S. Helena in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War.
After returning home, John met Polly at a Crescent Park dance and decided that night that he had met the girl he was going to marry. He did, and in June 1951 married Polly. In their early years together, he and Polly both quietly raised one of his nephews while also caring for John's mother. All the while, their home was a center of the Martone family celebrations and holidays.
One of the exceptional moments in his life was the birth of his daughter Kimberly, on whom he doted and later in his life, who doted on him. Their bond was unbreakable and she is his finest legacy.
John was a proud Italian-American Rhode Islander and lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus. One of his greatest joys was his pilgrimage to Italy and visit to the tiny church in which his parents were married, in his family's ancestral hilltop town of Sessa Aurunca.
His life was touched by many of the defining events of the twentieth century, including the Great Depression, the Second World War and the tragedy of 9/11. Despite them all, his capacity for joy, love and humor was undiminished.
In his retirement from the RI Department of Labor, it was not entirely clear which he enjoyed most: his golf game, his golf buddies or his daily card game at the American Legion in Natick. Maybe all three. He is surely smiling as he reads this.
Visitors are welcome to join the family at THE URQUHART-MURPHY FUNERAL HOME, 800 Greenwich Avenue, Warwick, Rhode Island (Exit 12A on I-95) from 9:30 - 10:30 am on Monday November 21, 2016 followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am in Sacred Heart Church, 820 Providence Street, West Warwick, RI followed by burial at Quidnessett Memorial Cemetery, North Kingstown, RI.
John Dante Martone of West Warwick, Rhode Island passed away on November 15, 2016. John led a long and full life filled with more joy than sorrow, more enjoyment than boredom, more friends than foes, and more lasagna than lemons, although he loved lemons too. When he reflected on his life, he spoke glowingly of his dear mother Giuseppina and strong father Bernardino, his constant companion and lovely wife of 65 years, Palma (Polly) and his daughter Kimberly and her beloved fiancée, Lincoln. The middle child of six children, he survived his five siblings, (Giovannina) Janet, Antonio (Anthony), Giacomo (Jack), Quirino (Gary) and Lucia (Lucille). He also survived his beloved son-in-law, Christopher Morrison.
John Martone was born on February 22, 1927 when Calvin Coolidge was President and passed on November 15, 2016 when Barack Obama was President. John was a lifelong, staunch Democrat with the exception of his possible vote for President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
John volunteered for the United States Navy on the day before his 18th birthday, forgoing his high school graduation, but later earning his equivalency. He served his Nation under arms on the U.S.S. Helena in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War.
After returning home, John met Polly at a Crescent Park dance and decided that night that he had met the girl he was going to marry. He did, and in June 1951 married Polly. In their early years together, he and Polly both quietly raised one of his nephews while also caring for John's mother. All the while, their home was a center of the Martone family celebrations and holidays.
One of the exceptional moments in his life was the birth of his daughter Kimberly, on whom he doted and later in his life, who doted on him. Their bond was unbreakable and she is his finest legacy.
John was a proud Italian-American Rhode Islander and lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus. One of his greatest joys was his pilgrimage to Italy and visit to the tiny church in which his parents were married, in his family's ancestral hilltop town of Sessa Aurunca.
His life was touched by many of the defining events of the twentieth century, including the Great Depression, the Second World War and the tragedy of 9/11. Despite them all, his capacity for joy, love and humor was undiminished.
In his retirement from the RI Department of Labor, it was not entirely clear which he enjoyed most: his golf game, his golf buddies or his daily card game at the American Legion in Natick. Maybe all three. He is surely smiling as he reads this.
Visitors are welcome to join the family at THE URQUHART-MURPHY FUNERAL HOME, 800 Greenwich Avenue, Warwick, Rhode Island (Exit 12A on I-95) from 9:30 - 10:30 am on Monday November 21, 2016 followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am in Sacred Heart Church, 820 Providence Street, West Warwick, RI followed by burial at Quidnessett Memorial Cemetery, North Kingstown, RI.
Urquhart - Murphy Funeral Home
800-812 Greenwich Avenue
Warwick, Rhode Island 02886
401-737-3510