Remembering Beverly Procopio

Beverly Procopio was a beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt and grandmother. She was a dedicated, hard-working Anawan Lions Club member and a caring, helpful friend.

Bev died on April 29 at the age of 87. She always went above and beyond for her family and for the community of Rehoboth. She and her husband Larry made a difference in many people’s lives.

Never afraid to speak her mind, Bev was frank with everyone and didn’t take ‘no’ for an answer when it was something important to her.

She was known as the “energizer bunny” because she just kept on going – from family to work to the Lions to the Harvest Block Party and more. She is remembered fondly by many people because she touched the hearts of many people.

Bev was born on December 1, 1926 and graduated from what was then Dighton High School. She met Larry Procopio while working as a waitress at the Palms Restaurant in East Providence. Larry worked there as the cook. They fell in love and got married in 1957. They were almost inseparable until Larry passed away in 2007.

After the Palms Restaurant closed at the end of 1983, Bev and Larry ran B & L Catering out of their house for years. Then they got jobs at Francis Farm and worked together there.

Bev also ran a home day care for several years and at one time, she took care of 8 children in her home.

Her children Stephen, Linda and Chuck meant the world to her.

“She was the best. Very kind, loving, understanding and stern,” Chuck said.

Bev also stayed close to her own family over the years. Her brother, Jim McLean, and sister, Marge Morrell, lived with their families on the same street as Bev and Larry. Family members called themselves “the tribe” because they always did things together.

“Friends and family were her utmost thing to do. Taking care of them, and being with them both,” Chuck said.

The family usually celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays at Larry and Bev’s house. Dinner could include up to 30 people. Bev was the ‘matriarch’ of the tribe, says Chuck.

“We grew up together. My cousins and I grew up more as brothers and sisters than cousins. I had three sets of parents. I had a great childhood,” Chuck said.

Besides her family, Bev was also dedicated to the Anawan Lions Club. She was a member for more than 20 years. Larry was also a member of the Rehoboth Lions for many years. They worked at various Lions functions together and supported the club’s many community service programs.

Both Larry and Bev were awarded the Melvin Jones Award by the Lions for service to the club.

“She was involved in everything my father was involved in,” Chuck said.

In the eulogy, Chuck said: “A lot of women wanted to be like her and a lot of mighty men feared her.”

Bev and Larry were both involved in the Republican Town Committee. Larry was a founder of The Friends of the Elderly and Bev was active in that group as well.

“My father would start things and my mother would take them over or tell him how to do it,” Chuck said.

She was also involved in the Women’s Activity Club, which provided coffee and donuts after the Memorial Day Parade and put together Thanksgiving baskets for people in need.

She was famous for her bread pudding, recalls Mary Beth Moriarty, who was good friends with Bev and Larry. The Anawan Lions would put on regular bake sales and Bev would always bring a few pans of her bread pudding to sell.

“There would be someone in the parking lot waiting to buy it,” Mary Beth said.

One of Bev and Larry’s legacies to the town is the Harvest Block Party. Bev helped Larry organize the Block Party, which started in 1999 and bears their name. The event was Larry’s idea. He wanted to create a fun, family event where the people of Rehoboth could get together without having to spend a lot of money.

After Larry died in 2007, Bev took over the reins of the event until she became ill in 2010.

The event still draws hundreds of people and is going on its 15th year this fall. Mary Beth Moriarty has taken over as chair of the committee and Bev’s son Chuck also serves on the committee.

Bev continued to stay active after Larry died.

“When we lost Larry, he said to her ‘I want you to keep going. I want you to enjoy life.’ And she did,” said Mary Beth.

In 2010, Bev suffered a massive brain hemorrhage. At the end of April this year, she passed away, surrounded by her family.

She left a mark on the community that won’t soon be filled. She was the kind of person who thought of others before herself.

When the Anawan Lions lost Bev’s participation, it took four people to do the job she did, says Moriarty.

“That was Bev. If there was a need for something, Bev was there to do it. She didn’t think about it. She just jumped in,” Mary Beth said.

“I don’t think she realized how much she did,” she added.