Charles K. Fennelly
Date of Passing:
Charles K. Fennelly,75, of Pinecrest Drive, Riverside, died peacefully on October 3, 2024, at Rhode Island Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of Donna L. (Lempitsky) Fennelly.
Born in Fall River, MA, a son of Margaret T. (Charest) Fennelly of Burlington, MA and the late Charles J. Fennelly, he lived in Riverside for 46 years.
Mr. Fennelly was a clerk for the Rhode Island Department of Transportation for 28 years before retiring in 1998.
Charles was a communicant of St. Brendan Church, Riverside.
A sports enthusiast, he was a devoted Boston Celtic and Detroit Tigers fan. He enjoyed fishing, music, playing the guitar and loved his pets.
Mr. Fennelly was a United States Coast Guard Veteran serving during the Vietnam Era.
Besides his wife of 44 years and his mother, he is survived by a daughter, Kristine Gallo-Mota of Cranston; two stepsons, Louis J. Gelfuso of Riverside and John N. Gelfuso of Maine and seven grandchildren.
A Celebration of his Life will be held on Saturday October 12, 2024 in the W. RAYMOND WATSON FUNERAL HOME, 350 Willett Avenue, Riverside at 2 p.m.
Calling Hours are Saturday afternoon from 12 noon- 2 p.m. Flowers are respectfully omitted. Contributions in Charles’s memory to the National Autism Association, 310 Maple Avenue, Suite E-3 Barrington, RI 02806 would be deeply appreciated.
I was in total shock when I received the phone call from Chuck’s best friend of 70 years!To let me know of Chuck’s passing! I was introduced to Chuck and his wife Donna from his best friend Joe .of whom I am in a relationship with! Chuck was a down to earth man! He always wore a great smile! Never complained of his down falls that he right of had! He would make every one in his company feel wanted he would bring joy to the room. It was a pleasure to be able to know Chuck and his wife Donna and to spend time with them! Chuck would reach out to you with open arms! Never had a bad word about anything or anyone! We will surely miss those time with him and his wife Donna! Chuck May you rest in peace! Keep that great smile! My condolences to your wife Donna and the rest of the family!!
I can’t remember a time in my life when Chuck wasn’t there. He was a great guy, he was Joe’s best friend, and he was so completely one-of-a-kind. I’ll always remember him, just as I’ll always remember my father calling the Tigers “Chuckie’s Detroit.” To Donna and family: my condolences, and God bless you.
My deepest sympathy to Donna and the family. I will always remember Chuck’s smile and laughter. The obituary photo captured Chuck’s joy of living. I met Chuck walking my dog in the neighborhood. Being a dog lover naturally Chuck would strike up a conversation with other dog lovers. After a long tiring day at work it was wonderful to chat and laugh with Chuck when I met him when I took my dog for her walk in the afternoon.
He always had an interesting story and enjoyed socializing. Rest in peace.
It was a friendship and brotherhood that lasted for 70 years.
I met Chuck in my dad’s variety store when we were both 7. He lived just a block from our family home. We went to different Catholic Elementary and high schools, but still remained great friends.
After H.S. Chuck took a retail job for a bit, while the rest of us went on to college. Chuck then enlisted in the Coast Guard serving his 4 year term. It wasn’t easy. His cutter was up in the Bering Straits b/w Alaska and Russia. He was buzzed by Soviet Migs trying to burst the eardrums of any Coastie who may have been on deck. After that tour, he did another to Europe stopping in Netherlands and Germany. He finished his duty at the Boston Coast Guard Station.
We reconnected after I came home and the friendship easily resumed. He worked for John Hancock selling insurance for a bit, then began a long career with the RI DOT. He retired from there and spend a lot of time being the Riverside handyman in his neighborhood.
He met Donna in 1980 and established a household with her in Riverside along with her 2 sons. They went from apartment to house staying in that area.
Chuck and I did the usual activities growing up…sports and fishing. The latter became our major activity. He had the aluminum boat, and we’d launch before dawn on the ponds nearby. He really immersed himself into fishing, amassing lots of equipment and outfishing me just about all the time.
As we aged he experienced some health challenges, but always kept a positive attitude, a winning smile and a caring for others. From those, he developed a ton of friends.
in the last couple of years, the health issues increased, but his disposition was always the same. If YOU were down and needed a boost, he was always there on the phone or in person. It wouldn’t take too long before you’d be laughing, smiling and leaving his company feeling uplifted.
God chose to take him just this past Thursday. It’s a terrible loss for Donna, the boys and all of us.
So for me, I will always miss my best friend of 70 years, my Veteran brother and my close blood brother born of different parents.
Rest well, Chuck. Can’t wait to see you on the other side where we’ll do some more fishing. Maybe I’ll be able to match your skills, but I doubt it. May God take you into the palm of his hand. Rest in peace.