ALTHEA MERCER MANSOLILLO

MANSOLILLO, ALTHEA MERCER, 82, of Cranston passed away Sunday May 16, 2010 at the Philip Hulitar Hospice Inpatient Center. She was the wife of the late Raymond Mansolillo.

Born in Somerset, MA a daughter of the late John and Mabel (Little) Mercer.

A loving and devoted mother and grandmother, she is survived by her son Raymond A. Mansolillo II, and his wife Maria of Cranston, her daughter Faith Mansolillo Orabona and husband John of Lincoln and the late John Joseph Mansolillo. Two grandchildren; Raymond A. Manso- lillo, III and Kimberly M. Manso- lillo. She was the sister of Hope Mercer Hall of Ohio, Faith Peck- ham of Tiverton, Robert Mercer of Florida, Carlton Mercer of Tiverton and the late Ruth Ouilette, Lois, John, Marilyn and Beverly Mercer.

In her youth she was a professional marathon swimmer, a member of the famous Swimming Mercers of Fall River, Massachusetts. In 1949-50 she won the Block Island Swim, the Battery to Coney Island Swim, and the Fall River City Length Swim. She also placed sixth in the World Professional Long Distance Swim in Lake Ontario, Canada. Althea instructed swimming for twenty-six years for the Providence school system. In 1972 she was honored by traveling to California as swimming coach representing RI at the National Special Olympics. She was the first Water Safety Instructor Trainer for the handicapped at the Red Cross National Aquatic School. Althea was the first woman to become a lifeguard for the State of RI at Eastons Beach in Newport and Teddy Bear Beach in Portsmouth. She received a commendation from the City of Providence for saving the life of a 14 year old special education student at Pleasant View School. In 1997 she was inducted into the RI Aquatics Hall of Fame at Brown University.

Her funeral will be held Thursday at 8:45 a.m. from 'WOODLAWN' Funeral Home, 600 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston followed by a Funeral Service at 10:00 a.m. in St. David's On the Hill Episcopal Church, Meschanticut Valley Parkway, Cranston. Burial will be private. Calling Hours Wednesday 4-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations in her memory may be made to RI Special Olympics, 33 College Hill Rd. Bldg # 31, Warwick, RI 02886. Please visit www.WoodlawnGattone.com for online condolences.