Angelina 'Angie' Mary (Vevish) Vinagro

Angelina "Angie" Mary (Vevish) Vinagro, 100, passed away from Covid-19 on December 12th, at Cedar Crest Nursing home. She was the wife of the late Louis L. Vinagro Sr. of Johnston and pre-deceased by her son Louis Jr. and her grandson Jared Bromley.  She lived by the philosophy in the Nat King Cole song "Pretend", singing "pretend your happy, when your blue, it isn't very hard to do, and you'll find happiness without an end." always smiling even when she was blue. What a smile it was, along with a "hehe" (octave jump on the second "he") style laugh that was infectious. She was a first generation American born to Sylvanna and Manual Vevish, both immigrants from the Azores, on March 24th, 1920 in West Warwick, RI. She was the fourth born to a family of 11 children.

She was small in stature by mighty in strength. Growing up, she had to overcome challenge after challenge thrown in her path. Her mother, being told that she had above average intelligence, enrolled her in a French school without knowing a word of the language. However, soon she found herself staying home to help her mother manage the household, while taking on odd jobs to help with the family finances to no avail when one morning, while eating at the kitchen table, there was a knock on the door. The constable had come to evict the the family and put the table out onto the curb. She left school at sixth grade to continue to help out full time.

Her crooked fingers and weathered hands helped build this country, by working in a factory as a seamstress, nanny, jewelry assembler, farm worker, and a host of other occupations.
In February 1940 while attending a public dance, Louis Vinagro's eyes landed on the beautiful Angie, beholding him silent for three weeks until he finally gathered up the courage to ask her to dance. Six months later on September 7th, they were married. Soon after Louis was drafted into the Army during WWII and upon his return he used money he won in a poker game to purchase cows in order to begin their farming adventure.

She delivered five children over twenty years. The first being Anne Marie, then three years later Joseph, followed by Louis Jr. five years later.  In a second wave, seven years later JoAnn came along and then five years later Anthony completed the clan after Angie had just turned 44.
Now for the good stuff; Angie was known as a hot-shit with spit-fire retorts. She had non-filtered barbs that would leave you stunned and laughing more so than insulted. She took on life's challenges with a mighty spirit like teaching herself to drive a stick shift "junker" on an isolated farm in Western Cranston, unbeknownst to her husband until she told him that she was ready to go for her permit. Continuing to blaze a one-woman's liberation trail for herself, she went out and purchased her own blue ford pick-up truck in the 70's when such boldness was not accomplished at that time without a husbands signature.

She was an incredible sales person who was personable, striking up conversations with everyone she met and persuasive, peddling her son Louie's farm fresh vegetables along Route 4. to beach goers. She would often tell me (JoAnn) "I don't know where you came from"  referring to my creativity, but it was obvious that the apple hadn't fallen far from the tree! With hardly anything left in the refrigerator, she would fashion the most incredible meal, hearty and delicious. She was an amazing cook who used measurements with the spread between two fingers and who when asked for a recipe would reply back with "a little bit of this, a little bit of that" that was often attempted by her friends and family to failed results. She just had the touch and no one left her table hungry. She could fashion braided rugs, curtains, and clothing from others discarded "rags." She would salvage someone's unwanted "trash" and turn it into something new and useful, always practical, always making lemonade, from a lot of lemons!

She was a survivor. Her first thought was always to prepare for the worst. She was honest and forthright, and pragmatic. She had to be, she knew that all could be lost in a second and so she held tight to possessions.  Her tongue could sting like a rapier, but she always meant it as a wake up call to someone's stupidity. Being politically correct was never a concern. Tempering her boldness she also possessed such a deep empathy, that when told of someone's illness or hurt, she seemed to actually feel it within her skin. She always had an herbal remedy fashioning poultices from local weeds and concoctions in tending to our family and friends.

Back in the hey day, she loved to dance with my father, visiting Foxwoods, reading home remedies and eating bread with butter, oh she loved butter!  She enjoyed watching "Everybody loves Raymond" and Two and a Half men", always attracted to rugged men on the tv. She loved playing bingo and word searches, and car rides to Iggy's for doughboys, crepes at I-Hop and her most favorite Wright's Chicken Farm. Upon entering Pocasset Village in 2013 she was soon appointed "Hospitality Ambassador", orientating new residents to the daily activities and schedule. People always looked to her for guidance whether it was how to repair a pair of pants or being a faux "Uber" driver for other residents at Cedar Crest that would hang onto her walker while she brought them back to their room.

She leaves behind a legacy of 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.  She was beloved by the entire staff and residents of Cedar Crest. She is now comforted with her Heavenly Father and her boys. Rest in Peace Mama, you are loved and missed beyond measure.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. in St. Robert Bellarmine Church, Johnston (seating capacity will be limited, social distancing and mask required).  Burial will be private.