passed away peacefully October 10, 2017. She was born in 1933, in Oakland Beach, Warwick, RI, to Chester and Alice Carpenter. "Jerry" came into contact with Jehovah's Witnesses as a young child in 1939, at 6 years of age. From then on, she began a lifelong journey serving her God, Jehovah. She was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses on August 1, 1950, at a historic convention in Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY. She married Charles Arvanites on September 25, 1951, and the two were together, settling in North Providence, until his passing in August 2013. Jerry leaves behind her daughter Charlene, "Chooky" DeBeaulieu, her sons Jonathan, James, and Jason Arvanites, along with their mates Richard, Sylvia, Carol, and Elaine, respectively. She also leaves behind her grandchildren Jeri Kim Lowe, Kyuok Kim Santana, as well as their mates Rickardo Lowe and Javier Santana, Jonathan "Chaz" and Jasmin Arvanites, Alx, and Chant'L DeBeaulieu. Jerry also had several great-grandchildren, Josue, Jade, and Jasmine Santana, as well as Athena and Aris Arvanites. She also leaves behind siblings Wayne and Chester "Buddy" Carpenter, and Rayola Carpenter along with their families. Her parents as well as her siblings Alice, Eddie, and Harvey are deceased.
Jerry loved her family, and her vast extended spiritual family at the Kingdom Halls where she associated. Whether it was at the Mt. Pleasant Congregation in Rhode Island, or the Mystic Congregation where she spent the past 3 years with Jim and Carol, she loved the "interchange of encouragement by one another's faith" (Romans 1:12), and sharing with others her hope for the future, where "God will wipe out every tear, and death, nor pain… will be anymore." (Revelation 21:3-4). Like everyone in these trying times, Jerry had her ups and downs, good and bad days, but she always valued her relationship with Jehovah God. At every opportunity she could, she enthusiastically shared her faith. She was known for her quick wit, fashion, love of crossword puzzles, knitting, singing, but most of all her love for Jehovah, the Bible, congregation meetings, her ministry, and her family and friends.
Please share a good memory of Jerry that you personally have with a friend, relative, or anyone who will be encouraged by it.
A funeral talk will be given at the Johnston Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 1742 Atwood Avenue, Johnston, RI 02919. All are invited to attend on Saturday, October 28, 2017 at 1:00 PM