Antonetta "Etta" (Badessa) Merlino

97, of Narragansett, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2025 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was the wife of the late John Merlino, Jr.

Born in Providence, she was the daughter of the late Nicola and Josephine (Trioli) Badessa.

Mrs. Merlino and her husband were the owners of Wizard Electric before retiring. They enjoyed wintering in Highland Beach, FL.

Etta was a charter member of the Bonnet Shores Golf Club and President of the Bonnet Shore’s Women’s Club for two years. She sang with the Notables at the Narragansett Senior Center; and enjoyed water aerobics at the YMCA.

Etta was a volunteer at South County Hospital for twenty years and also for the Johnny Cake Center. She loved to travel and was an avid Patriots football fan.

She played Mah Jongg, card games, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles and reading.

She was a communicant of St. Veronica Chapel and was a member of the St. Thomas More Ladies Guild.

Etta loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

She leaves four children, Marcia Comorosky and her husband David of Narragansett , David Merlino of Narragansett, John Merlino, III and his wife Sherry of West Greenwich and Joan McGovern and her husband William of Narragansett; a brother, Beneditto Badessa of Coventry; seven grandchildren, Mark (Lauren), Paul (Anne Lynn), Janelle (Kyle), Melissa (Patrick), Elizabeth (Rainer), Kate (Zack) and John IV; and eight great-grandchildren, Aiden, Belle, Willie, Olivia, Cecelia, Matthew, Drew and Camille. She was the sister of the late Joseph Badessa.

Her funeral will be held on Friday, September 5, 2025 at 9am from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory – SOUTH COUNTY CHAPEL, 1111 Boston Neck Road, (Rt. 1A), Narragansett followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10am in St. Veronica Chapel, 1035 Boston Neck Road, Narragansett. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery, Wakefield. VISITING HOURS Thursday from 4-7pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or Hope Health Hospice.