Rachel C. Vangermeersch,92, died February 18, 2007 in Smithfield,RI. Widow of Richard E. Vangermeersch, she resided at North Bay Manor in Smithield since 1999.
She was born in occupied France in 1915 to Jerome and Marie (Tonneau) Neirinckx. Rachel and her parents returned to Ronse/Renaix, Belgium after WWI and they came to Rhode Island in 1926.
Rachel and her friend, Lillian Benoit saw Charles Lindbergh during his triumphant trip to Providence in 1927. Rachel worked in retailing at
Smith’s 5 and 10 store in Centredale before her marriage in 1939. Later, she managed a retail chicken, rabbit and fresh egg farm in Johnston until that business closed in 1963. She then worked as an assembler for Mine Safety and then for GE until she retired in 1977. She received her high school equivalency in 1979. Rachel was the ultimate “people person”.
She is survived by her two sons, Richard of Narragansett and Robert and his wife, Tracy of Fort Collins, CO; three grandchildren, Gretchen (Doug), Rob (Emily) and Megan (John) and seven great grandchildren. Rachel had a nice visit with her sons, daughter-in-law and grandchildren just before she died.
Her funeral will be Friday, February 22 at 11:30 am in Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 54 Cedar Swamp Road, Smithfield *Rt. 5 just after junction of Rt. 44. Visitation Thursday 2-4 and 6-8 in the * ANDERSON-WINFIELD Funeral Home, Rt.44 at Greenville Common, Greenville. If you are in need of a ride for funeral service and or visitation, please call Anderson-Winfield Chauffeured Services at 401 949 5557.