John L. Prest, 57, of Providence, passed away on Friday, October 25, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of Angela (DiFusco) Prest for 32 years.
Born in Providence, he was the son of Margo (Randall) Prest Donovan and the late Edward Prest.
John worked as a heavy equipment operator for Mack Construction Co. and Central Nurseries before retiring. In his younger years, he was the owner and operator of J. Prest & Son Landscaping.
John was a proud direct descendant of Roger Williams and took great pride in being the family historian. In his free time, he would visit and volunteer at historical cemeteries, helping to clean and mark the sites. He loved music, especially classic rock, and the highlight of his year was seeing the Rolling Stones and Ringo Starr with his All-Starr Band. John enjoyed the outdoors, engaging in activities such as fishing and hunting, and he loved spending time at the ocean. He also took joy in feeding “his girls,” the Highland cows at a friend’s farm. He seized every opportunity to go cruising in his 1972 Monte Carlo.
In addition to his wife and mother, he is survived by two children, Edward J. Prest and Victoria M. Prest; his sister, Stephanie Prest; his brother, Gary Prest; as well as nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, James Prest.
A funeral service will be held at A.A. Mariani & Son Funeral Home, 200 Hawkins Street, Providence, on Wednesday, October 30, at 10:00 am. Burial will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Providence. Visiting hours are on Tuesday, October 29, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to… Blackstone Valley Historical Society, 1873 Old Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln, RI 02865. www.bvhsri.org
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