Mario A. Simonini, 88, formerly of Kennedy St. Woonsocket died Saturday afternoon at Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island in Providence. He was the loving husband of the late Rita D. (Laferriere) Simonini.
Born in Woonsocket he was a son of the late Peter and Giocanda (Cheti) Simonini. He was a lifelong resident of the city. He moved to West Warwick several years ago to be closer to family
Mr. Simonini was a veteran of the United States Army serving in the European Theater during WWII. He was in the Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe Campaigns and received the European-African-Middle-Eastern Theatre Campaign Ribbon with five Bronze Battle Stars and the WWII Victory Ribbon.
Mr. Simonini was employed at the Falls Yarn Mill, Hasbro Corp. and worked at AT Cross for many years before retiring.
Mario was a member of Disabled American Veterans and was going to be among a group of local veterans traveling on the Honor Flight Fox Trot to visit the National WWII Veterans Memorial in Washington DC in commeration of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landing in Normandy, France June 6th 1944. Though he will not be there physically Mario’s family takes comfort in knowing that he will be there in spirit.
Mario was a member of the Thundermist Striper fishing club, was an avid fresh and salt water fisherman and enjoyed hunting. Gardening, yard work and home improvement projects were some of his other favorite pastimes.
He is survived by a son David Simonini of Pascoag, a daughter Nancy Waugh and her husband, Richard Waugh, Jr., of West Warwick, two grandsons Jonathan and Timothy Waugh, and his wife Jessica, and two great-grandchildren Jakob and Ayden. He was the brother of Elio Simonini, Rita Archambault, and Esther Jalbert. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and their families..
His funeral will be Friday at 9:00 am from the Menard-Lacouture Funeral Home, 127 Carrington Ave., Woonsocket followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am in St. Anthony's Church, Greene St. Woonsocket. Burial with Military Honors will follow in St. Charles Cemetery, Farm St. Blackstone. Visiting hours are Thursday from 5-8 pm. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Home & Hospice Care of R.I. 1085 North Main St. Providence, R.I. 02904.
www.menardfuneralhome.com