Prayer Card - Martina (Sherlock) Higgins

For those unable to travel to the wake and or funeral, here are the front and back images of the prayer cards for Martina.








One of the songs during the service was "Hail Mary, Gentle Woman" written by Carey Landry.

Martina B (Sherlock) Higgins

96, formerly of Wanda St., Narragansett, passed away on Friday, January 11, 2013 at Rhode Island Veterans Home in Bristol. She was the beloved wife of the late John J. Higgins. Born in Pawtucket, she was the daughter of the late John F. and Mary (King) Sherlock. 

Martina was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy serving as a nurse during WW-II in Honolulu, HA and later was an operating room supervisor at Adelphi Hospital in Brooklyn, NY and South County Hospital in Wakefield before retiring. 

She was the devoted mother of John J. Higgins and his wife Gayle of South Hadley, MA and the late Cmdr. Edward J Higgins and his wife Gerry Higgins of Alexandria, VA; loving grandmother of Bernadette Higgins, Andrew Higgins, Sarah Higgins and John J. Higgins; dear sister of Henry Sherlock of Providence, Angela Brousseau of Snug Harbor, Helene Mainor of North Kingstown and the late John, Edward, Gerald and Paul Sherlock and Mary Frances Campbell; and loving aunt of many treasured nieces and nephews.

Funeral from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory-SOUTH COUNTY CHAPEL, 1111 Boston Neck Rd. (Rt.1A), Narragansett, on Wednesday, January 16th at 9:45 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Thomas More Church, 53 Rockland St., Narragansett at 11 a.m. Private interment will be at Mount St. Mary Cemetery, Pawtucket.   

VISITING HOURS are Tuesday, January 15th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: St. Thomas More Church, 53 Rockland St., Narragansett, RI 02882.

Jerry with brothers and sisters

Front from left to right: Martina, Angela, Jack. Back left to right; Henry, Helene and Jerry
The picture was taken at RI College following the reception after Fran's funeral in 2007.
http://jerrysherlockstory.blogspot.com/2007/11/sherlock-clan.html


Obituary was originally posted to the Nardolillo Funeral Home web page here
http://easyfhweb.com/mobile/obituary.aspx?MemberId=115306

Photos from the VA Home, 3/25/10

Here are some still photos to recap Thursday's event at the VA Home in Bristol, RI

Jerry is on a roll with his story:

Jerry's sisters; Helene, Angela, and Martina were there. Niece Kelly was their driver for the day.

Jerry and Frank share a comment during the movie portion of the presentation

Steve Cileli spent hours on research and put together the video for the presentation:

Thanks to Toni Acampora at the VA Home for helping to coordinate the event!

Martina and Jerry

While eating with Martina and Jerry they spoke about getting permission to get into the war effort.
Jerry said that his parents refused to give him permission to join. " Ma said NO"
Martina then related the same thing." Oh, Ma refused to give me permission to go as a nurse."
She turned to me with the trademark Sherlock grin. I appealed to her as a mother. "But Ma if all the mothers of nurses told their daughters no, what would happen? Who would take care of all the boys? What would happen to Jack, Ted and Jerry?" Talk about your Irish guilt!

Mrs. Sherlock relented. Martina did add; " Well I didn't need permission as I was old enough. Times were different though I needed my mothers permission."

Jerry then said that he told the recruiter that his mother wouldn't give permission. The recruiter told Jerry that the Government would be drafting in September of 1943 and you never knew what would happen. She relented and Jerry was accepted for the Marines and went to Parris Island Recruit Depot in October of 1943. I suspect it was a little more complicated then that.

I am reminded after taking Jerry to see "Saving Private Ryan" I spoke to Jerry the next day and we spoke of some things that remain personal. However the one thing that stands out is like the fictional Mrs. Ryan, Jerry said Mrs. Sherlock had a banner with stars for Martin, Jack, Ted, Henry and Jerry. He said it must have been pretty hard on his mother. He considers himself very fortunate. Large families separated with members all over the world defending freedom. They all came home.

We tend to forget in our iPhone, Blackberry driven world of instant communications and take a lot for granted. Jerry and Martina spoke of getting mail from home. Times were different.

So the next time you voice or memory dial, take a moment to think of Mrs Sherlock in the dark days of the War with her children in far flung places. Never knowing.

Have a great day! Thanks Martina, Jack, Ted, Henry, Jerry, Fran, and of course Vin Campbell.

Henry, Mart and the imp herself

Jerry's brother and sister: Henry and Martina pose with young Paula Brousseau. The writing in pencil on the back of this original says "Henry, Mart and the imp herself. You can see from the position that Paula is in one of her rare moods and is just about ready for anything."

The pencil handwriting is similar to others found thus far which indicate that this was written by Jerry's mother Mary. Yes, to keep the record straight Mary was also mother to Henry and Martina, and grandmother to Paula.

Special treat Thursday

Jerry will give a talk on Thursday at the VA Home in Bristol remembering World War II in the Pacific. We found this photo of Jerry from that time (1944-1945). In those days, Jerry was lean to say the least. He does not recall exactly where this photo was taken other than "somewhere in the Pacific".

With some preparation and a little luck, Jerry's talk with be broadcast on his new UStream channel as well as recorded for review on demand.

Jerry's sister Martina is currently living at the VA Home and was key to helping organize this event. The archives turned up this photo of Martina posing with her mother and father; Mary and John Sherlock. The photo location was identified as outside the Sherlock home on Coyle Ave in Pawtucket, RI.

Put a place on your calendar to come back here on Thursday, March 25th at 1:30 PM to view the live broadcast of Jerry's talk. If you can't make it at that time, we'll be recording it and have it available for viewing after Thursday.

World's Fair, NYC 1964

Jerry talks with Bob and Steve as they remember the family trip to the World's Fair in New York City, 1964. Staying at Aunt Martina's, eating at the Automats, the GE and Ford exhibits amongst the highlights.

Time: 6 minutes, 16 seconds



MP3 File

East Matunick - Vacation tales

Jerry talks with Bob and Steve about vacation time down at East Matunick, RI.

Time: 6 minutes, 6 seconds



MP3 File

Sherlock Clan

Sherlock Clan, originally uploaded by shersteve.

front row: Martina, Angela, Jack
back row: Henry, Helene, Jerry

If the picture does not show completely in your browser window, click on the picture to view the original in Flickr.

The photo was taken during the reception at Rhode Island College following the funeral for their sister M Francis Campbell. RIC President John Nazarian stopped in to the reception to extend his condolences to the family and friends gathered there. He said that he will miss Fran. No matter what he said, she always had something else to add. She is probably looking down upon us all now and commenting.

Fran Campbell

M. Frances Campbell

CAMPBELL, M. FRANCES 'FRAN', 93, of Walcott Street, died Saturday at Memorial Hospital. She was the wife of the late Vincent J. Campbell, Sr.

Born in Pawtucket, she was a daughter of the late John F. Sr. and Mary Agnes (King) Sherlock and was a lifelong resident of the city. She was educated at Sacred Heart Grammar and High Schools in Pawtucket and graduated from Rhode Island College of Education in 1935. She began her 40 year teaching career at Oakland Beach School in Warwick followed by periods at Samuel Slater Jr. High School, Pawtucket, John W. Horton School, and later at Parkview Jr. High School both in Cranston. She was a critic teacher for many years guiding numerous student teachers toward academic excellence. She was a Past President of the RI Retired Teachers and the Blackstone Valley Teachers, Past Secretary & Treasurer of the RI Social Studies Association, a member of the Central Retired Teachers, A.F. of T. Retired Teachers, American Association of Teacher Educators, Delegate to the Annual Teacher Educators Convention for RI, a member of the Legislative Committee of the RI Teachers Association and the AARP Community Participation Person of the RI Teachers Association.

She was a Lecturer and Eucharistic minister at St. Joseph Church, Pawtucket as well as Past President of its Senior Citizens Club and Past Vice President of its Woman's Club. She was Past President of Mercy Mount Mothers Club, Past President of Sacred Heart High School Alumni. She was Treasurer of Catholic Woman's Club of RI and former member of the Ladies Auxiliary of St. Raphael Academy and Recording Secretary and Treasurer.

Mrs. Campbell was a Charter member of Providence College Veridames, and member of the RI College Alumni Association. She was a Regent of the Pawtucket Circle of the Daughters of Isabella and Recording Secretary of the State Circle.

On the Community level, she began her service with the American Red Cross Motor Service from 1941-1945 as a driver. She was a member of the Memorial Hospital Guild, the Pawtucket Women's Club, the Pawtucket Public Library, Deborah Cook-Sayles since 1983 and served as a Chairperson and later a Vice Chairperson there, and was a member of the Visiting Nurses of Blackstone Valley. She was a 2003 inductee of the Pawtucket Hall of Fame.

She was great advocate for Elderly issues and rights and testified at the RI State House Hearing and Committees. She was appointed a Delegate to the US Representative Fernand St. Germain White House Conference in 1981. She was Past President of Pawtucket Senior Citizen's Council, a Board Member of the Leon Mathieu Senior Center, and an Advisory Board Member of the Home and Community Care Board of the Department of Elderly Affairs. She was Elected State Democratic Woman for District 62.

She is survived by two sons, Vincent J. Jr. and his wife Patricia Campbell of Rehoboth, MA, Kevin P. Campbell of Pawtucket; three sisters, Martina Higgins of Bristol, Angela Brousseau of South Kingstown, Helene A. Mainor of North Kingstown; three brothers, John F. Sherlock, Sr. of Pawtucket, Gerald F. Sherlock of Smithfield, Henry J. Sherlock of Providence; four grandchildren, Shawn C. and his wife Holly Campbell of Rumford, Todd R. Campbell of Pawtucket, Honey H. Campbell of Pawtucket, Roseanna C. and her husband Brian Cavanaugh of Franklin, MA, and one great-grandson, Connor J. Campbell of Rumford. She was the sister of the late Rep. Paul Sherlock and Edward 'Ted' Sherlock. She was the former mother-in-law of Jann Campbell of Arlington, VA.

A funeral will be held on Friday at 8:30 a.m. from the CHEETHAM MORTUARY INC., 1012 Newport Ave., Pawtucket with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph Church, 193 Walcott St., Pawtucket. Burial will be in Mt. St. Mary Cemetery, Pawtucket. Relatives and friends are invited and may call on Thursday from 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. Donations may be made to RI College Foundation, 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Prov., RI 02980, in 'Fran's' memory.

Published in The Providence Journal on 10/30/2007.