RALPH GALLANT LAWRENCE

LAWRENCE, RALPH GALLANT, 82, formerly of Wood Cove Drive, Coventry, passed away peacefully at the South Kingstown Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, on Sunday, January 4, 2026. Born in Lynn, Massachusetts, he was the son of the late Ralph B. and Caroline A. (Charles) Lawrence. He was the husband of the late Penelope “Penny”  L. (Clum) Lawrence for 52 years until her passing in 2021.

Ralph lived in Coventry for 50 years and was an active member of his parish and the community. He began attending Mass in 1976 with his family and converted to Catholicism in 1983 with a firm belief in the importance of service to others. He volunteered for jobs at Saints John and Paul Church, including co-chairman of the Vision of Hope, serving as a member of the Finance Committee, assisting at after-Mass coffee hours, serving as an extraordinary minister of holy communion as well as on the diocesan Stewardship and Development Council and the Catholic Foundation and heading the building committee for a new rectory and for the construction of a parish center. In 2013, Lawrence was nominated by his pastor Father Paul R. Grenon and other parishioners to receive the lumen Gentium Award for his service to the parish.

Ralph graduated from Reading High School in 1961, and went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree from St. Lawrence University where he played NCAA Division 1 hockey. He retired as President of the Hyde Manufacturing Company in South Bridge, Massachusetts, after 20 years of loyal service. Ralph was a long distance runner, competing in several marathons, he enjoyed boating on Johnson’s Pond, and world travel with his wife Penny.

He was the father of Michael E. Lawrence (Lynnann) of San Antonio, TX, Marc C. Lawrence of Coventry, Steven T. Lawrence (Melissa) of Narragansett, and the late Thomas E. Lawrence. Ralph was the grandfather of Adam, Devin, Jack, Olin, Autumn, Leif, River, and the late Brianna Lawrence. He was the brother of Walter Lawrence of Ashburn, Virginia.

His funeral will be held on Friday, January 9, 2026 at 10:00 am from the Iannotti Funeral Home at MAPLE ROOT, 2000 Nooseneck Hill Rd., (Rt. 3) Coventry, with a Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am in Saints John & Paul Church. Interment at St. Joseph Cemetery in West Greenwich. Visiting hours are on Thursday from 4 pm – 7 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Fr. John V. Doyle School, 345 South Main St., Coventry, RI 02816 would be appreciated.

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