NORTH SMITHFIELD — John E. Unsworth Sr., 88, of Villa at St. Antoine and a former longtime resident of East Providence died on Saturday, Oct. 5, at Rhode Island Hospital.
Unsworth was the husband of the late Harriett M. (Williamson) Unsworth and the late Myra E. (Rowe) Unsworth. Born in East Providence, he was a son of the late William H. and Elizabeth A. (Riley) Unsworth. Unsworth was a firefighter for the East Providence Fire Department for 30 years, serving as the Chief for his last 4 years of service. After retiring from the Fire Department, he worked for the Gilbane Corporation as a Safety Engineer. He was a member of the Rhode Island, New England and Massachusetts Association of Fire Chiefs and the East Providence Police & Fire Retiree’s Association. He was a World War II veteran, serving in the Navy and the Pacific Theater and was a member of the American Legion, Post 10 Riverside.
Unsworth is survived by three daughters, Patricia A. Stevens of Overland Park, Kan.; Christine M. Unsworth of Lincoln and Janet E. Ross of Medway, Mass.; and two sons, Father John E. Unsworth Jr., pastor of St. Bernard Church, Wickford, and Michael F. Unsworth of Cranston; seven grandchildren, six great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter. He was the grandfather of the late Eric Gouveia and brother of the late William H. Unsworth Jr. and Joseph Myette.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at St. Margaret’s Church, Rumford. Burial was in Mt. St. Mary’s Cemetery.
