Dorothy Heffernan Watterson, 96, of Newport, passed away peacefully at home, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018 with her family by her side. She was blessed with a 65-year marriage to the love of her life, her late husband, Vincent.  

She was the beloved mother of William Watterson, Mary (Michael) Trainor, Nancy (Paul) Primiano, Jane (Dave) Riley and Steven (Heidi) Watterson — “Nana” to 17 grandchildren and “Grana” to 15 great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly. She was pre-deceased by her beloved grandson, Brian Trainor, her brother William Heffernan, as well as many dear friends. She leaves a brother, Robert (Doris) Heffernan and many nieces and nephews.

She was a graduate of Rogers High School and Our Lady of the Elms College where she was valedictorian. She was one of five people to complete the first master’s degree program at Salve Regina University in 1975.  Dorothy was an honored reading specialist in the Newport city school system for many years.

Visiting hours will be held Wednesday, Nov. 7, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the O’Neill-Hayes Funeral Home, 465 Spring Street, Newport. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Thursday, Nov. 8, in St. Joseph’s Church, corner of Broadway & Mann Avenue, Newport at 9:30 a.m. Burial will follow in St. Columba Cemetery, 465 Brown’s Lane, Middletown.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Catholic Relief Services, PO Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21297-0303 or to the St. Vincent de Paul Society c/o St. Joseph Church (serving the needy of Newport), 5 Mann Ave., Newport, RI 02840.

Funeral arrangements are by the O’Neill-Hayes Funeral Home. For more information and online condolences, please visit www.oneillhayes.com.