Rehoboth, MA – Cornelius “Neal” V. Harrington, 96, passed away peacefully at his home with his family and friends by his side on Thursday, December 19, 2024. He was the beloved husband of the late Lillian “Louise” (Marx) Harrington, who passed away in 2011, at the time they had been married for fifty-four years. Born in Fall River, he was a son of the late Walter, Sr. and Blanche (Levesque) Harrington.
Neal worked as a supervisor and foreman at various business over the years, including, Russo & Petit Truck Bodies in Rehoboth, Providence Truck Bodies and Spidel both in Providence, and most recently as shift supervisor at Electric Boat until his retirement. After his retirement he earned his certificate to become an EMT, where he served many town residents, even being nominated being the oldest licensed EMT in the Commonwealth. He also served the Town of Rehoboth in many capacities through his service to the Council on Aging, where he was a member of the Board of Directors, the Rehoboth Housing Authority, to which he was appointed by the Governor of Massachusetts.
In addition to his dedication to the community, Neal was a Master Mason and a member of the Eastern Star Lodge in Rehoboth, the Rehoboth Lions Club, and a founding member of Boy Scouts of America, Rehoboth Troop # 13. Neal was also a proud and long-term member of AA and very proud to celebrate over sixty years of sobriety.
In his free time, Neal had a passion for tinkering and fixing just about anything using his skills of good old fashioned “Yankee Ingenuity”, fishing and boating and moving about the town in his 1929 Ford Model A.
Neal was devoted to his family, friends and the town he called home for so many years. He will be lovingly remembered by all whose lives he has touched over the past ninety-six years. Neal was truly a father to many and “Pop’s” to all!
Neal leaves seven children, Ann Louise Ashey and her husband, Robert of Rhode Island, Robert Allen Lingard and his wife, Janet of Massachusetts, Richard Irving Lingard and his wife, Aida of Rhode Island, Neal Harrington and his wife, Carol of New Hampshire, Tish Vadnais and her husband, Skip, of Rehoboth, George Harrington and his wife, Lisa of Rhode Island, and Richard Harrington and his wife, Diane also in Rhode Island; two daughters-in-law, Jan Harrington of Florida and Sheree Lingard of MA; twenty-four grandchildren; many great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was the father of the late Norman Harrington and Reginald David Lingard and the brother of the late Edna Marchand and her husband, Jerry, and Walter Harrington, Jr. and his wife, Sherri.
SERVICES was held on Saturday, December 28th at 9 a.m. at WILLIAM W. TRIPP Funeral Home, 1008 Newport Ave., Pawtucket, followed by burial in the family lot at Christ Church Cemetery in Swansea. CALLING HOURS were held on Friday, December 27th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts to the Health & Human Services Department, C/O Elizabeth Doyle, 27 Francis Farm Rd., Rehoboth, MA 02769 would be appreciated. www.TrippFuneralHome.com
