Sylvia Mary Debney, 70, Retired Registered Nurse

Sylvia Mary (Proto) Debney, of Barrington and formerly of Bristol, passed peacefully away on Sunday, October 20, 2013, surrounded by her loving family. She was 70.

She was a Registered Nurse and had retired from the Rhode Island Department of Health after working for 25 years as a Nursing Care Evaluator. She had earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from Salve Regina University, graduating with High Honors. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Beatrice (Moran) Proto. She is survived by three children, Donna Abenante and her partner Benjamin Miller, Kelly Debney and Kim Debney, one much beloved grandson, Jacob Andrew Abenante and seven sisters, Noreen Bonsanti and her husband Daniel, Bernice Pezzullo and her husband Vincent, Lois Proto, Patricia Ernst and her late husband Vincent, Joann Collins and her husband Charles, and Anne Marie Orefice and her husband Peter. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. 

She loved photography, to read, to laugh, to travel and could always be heard cheering at her grandson's hockey games. She will be missed greatly by all that had the honor of knowing her.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held for her on Friday, October 25, 2013 in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Bristol. Visiting hours preceded the Mass at the Sansone Funeral Home, Bristol. Burial was private.

Memorial contributions may be made to Home and Hospice Care of RI, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904 or online atwww.hhcri.net or to the Alzheimer's Association, 245 Waterman St., Suite 306, Providence, RI 02906 or online at www.alz.org