Edward Walter Smith

Born in Providence to Thomas and Rita Smith, Eddie graduated from LaSalle Academy, where he played football and lacrosse, and attended URI. He had a long career in construction building commercial kitchens for restaurants, schools, and hospitals and enjoyed applying his skills to working on his own home and garden. The loves of his life include his wife of 30 years Debbie Falcone, and the New England Patriots.

His “wicked smart” sense of humor and playfulness made him an all-time great storyteller who entertained everyone around him - including himself, often bursting into his raspy cackling laugh as he reached his own punchline.

He was a fantastic cook who loved hosting friends and family, including for backyard pool parties at “Club Ed,” where he remains the unofficial (but not undisputed) cannonball competition champion. He was a 29-year Patriots season ticket holder, tailgate grill master, and dedicated fantasy football league commissioner.

Eddie was completely genuine, true to himself, unpretentious, generous, and thoughtful. He maintained many close life-long friendships. He was kind to everyone, no matter their background, and was the sort of person who not only knew the names of his local postal carriers and garbage truck drivers but would wait outside for them on hot days to offer them cold bottles of water. He taught his friends and family many important lessons, including how to clear snow from the driveway (wait for it to melt), how to get early access to Christmas cookies (“accidentally” break a few), how to buy the perfect gift for your friend who hates the Miami Dolphins (anonymously sign them up for a Dan Marino memorabilia subscription on their own dime), and how to open birthday cards (shake them and see if any money falls out).

There is a rumor he arrived on time for something once in 1992.

Eddie was a tough cookie who faced hard situations with a positive attitude, humor, and humility, whether enrolling in challenging clinical trials he knew would help other cancer patients, or enduring freezing cold games at Foxboro. He was a rare and good soul who will be deeply missed.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Rita (Dandeneau) Smith, and his brother Thomas. He is survived by his wife Debbie Falcone and their faithful terrier Scooter; his brother Peter (Ginnie) and sisters Mary Ann (Jake Dereszynski) and Kathleen Elion (Jonathan); nieces and nephews Elizabeth, Thomas, Kelly, Colleen, Christopher Elion, and Leigh Elion; and the many friends he made anywhere he went.

Funeral from the Russell J. Boyle and Son Funeral Home, 331 Smith Street, Providence will be Monday, March 11, 2024 at 8:45 am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am in St. Augustine Church, 639 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Providence. Burial will be in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. Family and friends may call in the Funeral Home Sunday, March 10, 2024 from 3:00-6:00 pm.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Center for Innovative Cancer Research, c/o The Miriam Hospital Foundation, PO Box H, Providence RI 02901 or online at giving.lifespan.org/The-Miriam/Give-Now