Mary Frances (Dias) Quinn of Atlantic Street passed peacefully last night surrounded by her beloved family. She celebrated her 100th birthday in October with a huge party. She was the daughter of the late Joseph DeCosta Dias and Maria (Moniz) Dias.
Born in Portsmouth, RI in 1916, she made Newport her home for the majority of her life. Together with the love of her life, the late Albert J. Quinn, they ran Quinn’s Market on Thames St. for over fifty years. A natural caregiver, she nursed many members of the Quinn-Dias families over the years. Mary was active in her church and a life member of the Catholic Daughters of Newport. She was involved in numerous social groups and was a fixture around town painting and line dancing at the Edward King House, Bowling at Aquidneck Lanes, attending the NPD Citizen’s Police Academy, volunteering at the Newport Hospital and attending her grandchildren’s sporting events. She loved to shop at Potters, Cherry and Webb and JC Penny’s. Above all other things she was the heart of her family cooking a feast and celebrating every holiday at her home. She was dedicated to her two sons, Albert James Quinn Jr. of Middletown and Thomas J. Quinn of North Kingstown. She was the proud grandparent of four grandchildren, four step grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Blessed with a beautiful and humorous disposition she was a gift to all that knew her.
She was predeceased by an infant grandson, Albert James Quinn III, her sister Ann White of Newport, brothers Joseph Dias of Fall River, MA and George Dias of Portsmouth.
She is survived by her sons and brothers James Dias and William Dias of Portsmouth and the staff of St. Clare’s Home who treated her as one of their own family.
Visiting hours will be held Sunday, March 26, 2017 from 3-6 pm in the O’Neill-Hayes Funeral Home, 465 Spring St., Newport. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, March 27, 2017 at St. Augustin’s Church, Carroll Avenue, Newport at 10 am. Burial will follow at St. Columba Cemetery, Brown’s Lane, Middletown.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Clare-Newport, Activities Fund, 309 Spring Street, Newport, RI 02840.
For more information and online condolences, please visit www.oneillhayes.com.
