John E. Faria

John E. Faria, 87, passed away peacefully in his sons home, surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. He was the husband of Patricia E Pastore, OCDS and they were married for 63 years. Born in Bristol, he was the son of Portuguese immigrants John P. Faria and Edwina (Costa) Faria and the brother of Adam Faria which all preceded him in death. John graduated from Colt Memorial High School in 1955 and soon after joined the US Navy becoming a Gunners Mate Second Class and served three years on the Intrepid in the Mediterranean Sea. In the 1970s he enrolled in Roger William College and graduated in accounting in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He worked for the RI Department of Administration for 19 years and prepared taxes for more than 500 families for more than 40 years. His home office lights could be seen burning till well after midnight during tax season. John was a life-long Democrat, an elected official and Democrat political operative for most of his life. Politics was his hobby, and he was passionate about it. He was a member and then President of the Bristol Town Council from 1968 thru 1971 and went on to become a RI State Senator. John was also involved in his community of Bristol, and at various times was involved in civic and fellowship organizations. As Secretary for the Santo Cristo Club, President of the Prince Henry Club, member of the Knights of Columbus, and Co-Chairman of Bristols Tricentennial Celebration. More recently he served as a member and then Chairman of the Bristol Housing Authority for the last 27 years. John was also a member for many years and then Chairman of the Bristol Democrat Town Committee for 19 years. He was known for letting the different factions of the committee have their say, until they had nothing else to say and then, like Solomon, would make the peace. He successfully mentored and schooled many a Bristol town council person, state representatives and senators, along with guiding town boards and commission members on the art of local and state government. While a student of politics, John was first and foremost a public servant who believed in democracy and the fundamentals of the two party system. The family homestead is located on Hope Street at the beginning of the 4th of July Parade route and through the decades he welcomed both Democrat and Republican Governors, US Senators and Congressman into his home for a cup of coffee, for conversation and rest before they marched. It was a yearly ritual that that he and Pat both enjoyed, and he built relationships with the highest levels of government. John was most proud of the time he served for the Social Security Administration of the US Department of Health, Education and Welfare, where he served as an instructor of citizenship for immigrants to become United States citizens. He would be thanked by many for his help and assistance in becoming an American and lamented the more recent political trend of bashing immigrants. John recently said, We were all immigrants at one time in this country and it is immigrants who have made America what it is today, and it distresses me to see how immigrants are now being treated, no matter their country of origin. John is survived by three loving children, Kimberly, Jeffrey (Dede Sienkiewicz), Johnathan (Tracey Robinson) and four wonderful grandchildren that he adored, Kyle (Kim Liverios), Jared, Tyler and Kaia. He is also survived by one great grandchild, Alaina. Visiting Hours will be held on Friday, December 6, 2024 from 4:00-7:00 PM at Sansone Funeral Home, 192 Wood Street, Bristol. His funeral will start from Sansone Funeral Home on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 10:00 AM with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Elizabeths Church, 577 Wood Street, Bristol, RI at 11:00 AM. He will be laid to rest with Military Honors at North Burial Ground, Hope Street, Bristol. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the St Judes Childrens Research Hospital. Services Visitation Friday December 6, 2024 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM Sansone Funeral Home 192 Wood Street Bristol, RI 02809 Funeral services from Saturday December 7, 2024 10:00 AM Sansone Funeral Home 192 Wood Street Bristol, RI 02809 Mass of Christian Burial Saturday December 7, 2024 11:00 AM St. Elizabeth Church (Wood Street, Bristol, Rhode Island) Cemetery North Burial Ground 1081 Hope Street Bristol, RI