Alfred Venditto

Obituary Alfred Stephen Venditto, 92, of Newport, North Carolina, but a lifelong resident of Rhode Island prior to 2014, died peacefully at home surrounded by his family on January 28, 2018, after a long battle with Parkinsons Disease. Born at home December 26, 1925 in Cranston, Rhode Island to Rose Veronica Grossi Venditto and Joseph Emelius Venditto. He was the third in a family of four boys. Joseph, John, and Robert are his brothers. Al attended LaSalle Academy in Providence, Rhode Island and served as a Seabee in the Navy during World War II. After the war he played professional baseball for six years. He always said he "helped Whitey Ford make it to the majors." While playing ball in North Dakota, he met Frannie Hablas, the "love of his life!" He decided to use his GI Bill to study art at Rhode Island School of Design, so he left professional baseball to pursue his career. However, baseball always remained a vital piece of the fabric of his life. Throughout his life he coached CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) baseball, taught his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to love the game, and served on the board of the Pawtucket Red Sox for many years. He even designed the program for the Pawtucket Red Sox year after year! He married Helen Frances "Frannie" Hablas June 14, 1954, Flag Day. They were married over 63 years and had five children, nine grandchildren, and "almost" eight great-grandchildren. (Some are due to be born soon!) He taught his children the importance of love, humor, athletics, leadership, positive attitudes, helping others, but most importantly, faith in God. Micah 6:8 describes our Dad perfectly "God has shown you what is good. What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Al Venditto is survived by his wife, Fran Venditto, his sons, Joe and Al II, and their wives Lauren and Rachel, his daughters Anne Savarese, Rose and Teresa Venditto, and his son-in-law Mark Savarese. His grandchildren, Frank Savarese married to Jamie, Aubrey Venditto, Amy Moore married to Adam, Chelsea Venditto married to Jody McCook, Matthew Savarese married Sarah, Mary Savarese, Enzo Leon Lopez Venditto, Jonah and Ruby Venditto. His great-grandchildren, Charlie, Reid, Mark and Frankie Savarese, and Bellyn McCook (born 1/26/18). His great grand-daughter, Isabelle Clare Savarese pre-deceased him on July 26, 2014. He is also pre-deceased by his parents, Joe and Rose Venditto, and his brothers, Joe and John Venditto. A funeral mass will be held at St. Mildred Catholic Church, Saturday, February 3, 2018, at noon. Reception will follow immediately after mass. A memorial mass will be held at St. Kevin Church in Warwick, Rhode Island, on March 3, 2018 at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Judes Childrens Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or the Parkinsons Foundation 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131. Thank you to our wonderful caregivers, Stacy, Amanda, Wendy, Kimberly, Evelina, Brenda, and Dena and our hospice team. We appreciate your love and support. Funeral Mass 12:00 PM ,Saturday, February 3, 2018 St. Mildred Catholic Church 653 Old Hammock Road Swansboro, NC 28546 Memorial Service 11:00 AM ,Saturday, March 3, 2018 St. Kevin Church 333 Sandy Lane Warwick, RI 02889 Services You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Alfred Venditto