Omer A. Sutherland

85, of Highland St., died Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at home. Married Violette A. (Sauvageau) Sutherland in 1950. Graduated from Providence College (1949) and Georgetown University Law Center (1951). Partner in the law firm of Sutherland & DiGianfilippo. Served in the Army during World War II. Inducted to the Knights of Malta in 1983. Legal counsel to St. Antoine Residence (No. Smithfield) and chairman of its Advisory Board. An original founder of NRI Community Services, Mr. Sutherland was an untiring advocate for the developmentally disabled. Active member of the CYO Board of Directors and legal counsel from CYO's inception in 1971. Through the Woonsocket Housing Authority, Mr. Sutherland created four housing developments for elderly and low-income residents of Woonsocket. Mr. Sutherland began the very first adoption program in the state of Rhode Island aimed at giving permanent homes to children in orphanages. An active member of Union St. Jean Baptiste since 1953, Mr. Sutherland was the principal legal advisor to USJB in its merger negotiations with Catholic Family Life Insurance in 1991. Mr. Sutherland was also a member of the Northern RI Association of Retarded Citizens, Rhode Island Bar Association, American Bar Association, Woonsocket Bar Association, Amvets and the Elks. Besides his wife, he is survived by four daughters, Louise A. Sutherland of Dublin, NH; Denise S. Richardson of Easton, MA; Camille S. Hernandez of Dade City, FL; Gisele M. Sutherland of Madison, WI; one brother, Gerard E. Sutherland of Norwood, MA and nine grandchildren. He was the father of the late Michele M., Michele A. and Peter O. Sutherland. His funeral will be held Monday, October 29, 2007 at 8 AM from the Holt Funeral Home, 510 So. Main St., WOONSOCKET, RI with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 AM in Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church, 1409 Park Ave., Woonsocket, RI. Burial with military honors will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Cumberland, RI. Calling hours are Sunday from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Antoine Residence, 10 Rhodes Ave., No. Smithfield, RI 02896-6999 or the VNS of Greater RI, Hospice Program, 6 Blackstone Valley Place, Lincoln, RI 02865. www.holtfuneral home.com