Joseph Jacome, Iii

Joseph Jacome, III died unexpectedly at Westerly Hospital on November 30, 2020. The son of Joseph Jacome, Jr. and Michelle DaPonte Saslow, Joseph was born in Providence on March 12, 1989. Besides his loving parents and step-father William Saslow, he leaves his loving wife, Amanda O’Meara, his children, Kayden Michael and Joselyn Marie, his step-son, Devin Ahern, his brother Michael Jacome, as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Joseph graduated from Monsignor Clarke School and The Prout School where he nourished his love of sports, participating in soccer, basketball, and cross country. His passion for sports continued as he championed the PC friars and became an encyclopedia of sports statistics. In his youth, Joseph was diagnosed with ADHD, a condition that sometimes challenged him as he sought to do his best in everything he undertook. One aspect of his life it did not impact, however, was his compassionate love of others, especially those who suffered in any way. In high school where service hours were mandatory, Joseph made it clear that he did not want to do just any old thing just to rack up the hours, but he wanted to do service that would really make a difference. To that end, he asked his mother if he could go to Mexico during April school vacation. Always one of his staunchest supporters, Michelle took Joseph to Mexico to help set up a food and clothing pantry, and a medical clinic with a group of religious sisters. Every morning, Joseph would go to the food stalls in town and ask for donations. While there, he once came upon a young man with cerebral palsy whose arms were bleeding from cuts he had received from the arm rests of his wheelchair. Joseph lifted him up, tenderly washed him off, and placed cloth on the arm rests to avoid future damage. The following year, Joseph performed his service in Honduras where he helped build a safety fence around a new medical facility. Again, his compassionate heart compelled him to reach out to all he met while there. This concern for others served him well in his job as a Certified Nursing Assistant at the Royal of Westerly Nursing Center in Westerly. Joseph was his younger brother’s greatest cheerleader. He was so proud of his brother Michael’s accomplishments, especial when he graduated from the Police Academy. Joseph was a loyal and loving grandson to his grandparents. After his VoVo’s death, he called his VaVo every day after school for many years. Joseph was also a seeker of truth. His spiritual journey led him to several congregations. At the time of his death, Joseph was an active member of Legacy Church in North Kingstown where he served on CREWS, set up, break down and security. One of his most cherished memories was of a trip he took with his mother, step-father and brother to his ancestral home in the Azores. There he met family members he never knew existed and thoroughly enjoyed the beauty, food, culture, and warmth he encountered throughout the trip. Joseph had a passion for food, creating wild dishes especially with steak. The love he had for his children was immeasurable. He created an incredibly strong bond with Kayden through their shared interest in the Marvel Superheroes and Harry Potter. He and Joselyn shared special times dancing to the song “Your Welcome” from the movie Moana, while Devin and Joseph bonded over their shared interests in politics and Star Wars. Joseph will be deeply missed for his big and generous heart and his zest for life. A funeral service will be held Saturday December 5th at 10 am at Legacy Church of RI, 125 Circuit Drive, North Kingstown. Burial will be private. Due to current restrictions on social gatherings, seating will be limited to 125 people, and the service will be live-streamed on the Avery-Storti Funeral Home Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Joseph Jacome, III GoFundme page and the link is listed below.