Donald S. Neil Sr., age 87 years, passed away on Thursday, December 15, 2022, at the Veterans Hospital in Providence, RI. Donald was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Joanne (Heaney) Neil, who passed away in 2014. Born in Central Falls, he is the son of the late Lillian (Brady/Neil) Bowden of Central Falls and William Neil of Attleboro, MA, and is also the stepson of the late Helen Neil, of Attleboro, MA. Donald attended Central Falls schools and was a communicant of the former St. Edward’s Church in Pawtucket, RI.
Donald is survived by his seven children; Dawn Neil, (Lester Duncan), of Barrington, RI, Kelly Neil, (Brian Hatch), of Attleboro, MA, Candace Neil of Pawtucket, RI, Cindy Neil, (Thomas Kenney), of Pawtucket, RI, Donald Neil Jr., (Heather Neil), of Johnston, RI, Christopher Neil, (Duo Neil), of Newton, MA, and David Neil of Providence, RI. Donald is also survived by four grandchildren; Addison and Aiden Neil of Johnston, RI, and Kaeleigh and Kaeden Neil of Newton, MA, and several nieces and nephews. Also surviving is his brother, William Neil, (Stella Neil), of California and his stepsister, Mary McDonald, of Attleboro, MA. He was predeceased by his siblings Phyllis (Neil) Pelland, formerly of Cumberland, RI, and Barbara Agnew of California, as well as a niece and nephew, Tracey Pelland and Michael Merolla.
Donald possessed a strong work ethic and a desire to help his family even as a young man by taking on jobs shining shoes, setting up pins in a bowling alley, and fixing bicycles in the neighborhood bike shop as an apprentice; eventually opening his own bicycle shop in Pawtucket, RI. Donald served in the U.S. Navy and was stationed aboard the U.S.S. Saipan. He was employed for many years as a Machine Operator and then as Foreman, for Holliston Mills/Sayles Finishing/Stanpat in Lincoln, RI, and later retired from the maintenance department at Regal Press in Norwood, MA.
Donald was a dedicated family man who spent much of his spare time doing home renovations, building and repairing bicycles and later cars, for his children, and attending his children’s events. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed telling jokes to family and friends, and was also a warm and caring father who, along with our mom, gave everything they had to their children to ensure that we had a wonderful childhood. He will be missed greatly by his surviving family members, but we know that he has been reunited with our mom, the love of his life, whom he missed dearly every day since her passing.
His funeral will begin at 10:00am on Thursday, December 22nd at Keefe Funeral Home, 5 Higginson Avenue, Lincoln, RI, followed by a funeral home service at 11:00am. Burial with military honors will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, 259 West Wrentham Road, Cumberland, RI. Calling hours will be Wednesday evening, December 21st, from 5:00 – 7:00pm. Relatives and friends are invited.