S.R. Avery Funeral Home | Funeral & Cremation Services for Hope Valley, RI

Who We Are

Our professional staff has years of experience caring for families from all walks of life. We are leaders in our profession, with dedication to service and professional integrity.

When we sit down with a family, our shared goal is to create a fitting, memorable and affordable service for their loved one. We offer them a wide variety of services and products, as well as a wealth of creative ideas and suggestions. Together, we'll design a memorial or funeral service that suits their needs now, and in the future. Families who come to us know that years from now, they will have deep peace-of-mind because in coming to us, they've done their best to honor their loved one.

Our History

The S.R. Avery Funeral Home takes great pride in its reputation of being the leading funeral service provider in our community. Our family and staff are dedicated to ensuring that each funeral reflects the unique life of the deceased and, at the same time, is meaningful and supportive for those left behind. We offer creative ideas and options to help tailor your arrangements to suit you and your family, and we take care of all the complex details for you.

We care about you and your family. Our staff of professional funeral directors have years of experience compassionately caring for families at the most difficult time of their lives. Our goal is to assist the family in their selection of a fitting tribute to their loved one. We offer families the choice of earth burial, cremation, aboveground entombment and other memorial options that meet the family's needs. We have designed our web site to answer many of the funeral service questions that people typically have. Please call or e-mail us if you have any additional questions or comments about our firm or any aspect of funeral service.

We are committed to providing the highest quality professional funeral service to those whom we are privileged to serve.

Our Valued Staff

Mr. John G. Weeden, Managing Partner

Funeral Director-Embalmer R.I. License # 1070

John G. Weeden, of Ashaway and Rockville, RI, is a Funeral Director/Embalmer and the Managing Partner of both the Buckler-Johnston Funeral Home and S.R. Avery Funeral Home’s. He has been associated with both funeral home’s since 1985.

He is a graduate of Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, CT with a Bachelor of Science degree, the Chariho High School, and the former New England Institute of Anatomy and Sciences in Kenmore Square, Boston, now part of Mt. Ida College, Newton, MA.

John and his wife Janet (Mourninghan) Weeden are active members of the Westerly Yacht Club and Hopkinton Historical Society and both attend St. Joseph Church in Hope Valley.

John volunteers and serves on the Hopkinton Animal Control Commission.
He is a member of both the Rhode Island and National Funeral Directors Association. In his spare time John enjoys spending time with his wife Janet, traveling, practicing yoga, working out at morning boot-camp, and skeet and trap shooting at the Narragansett Gun Club.
Mr. Raymond J. Dutelle, Funeral Director - Embalmer

Funeral Director-Embalmer R.I. License # 1121

Raymond J. Dutelle, lifelong resident of Warren, RI, has been married for 30 years to Frances M. (Lima) Dutelle. He has two children, Raymond J. Dutelle Jr., of Bristol and Alison E. Miranda and her husband Brent Miranda of Riverside, and a grandson Keegan J. Dutelle. He was the son of the late James & Gabrielle (Desmaris) Dutelle.

Ray is a graduate of Warren High School Class of 1975, and of New England Institute at Mt. Ida College, Newton, MA, in Funeral Science Class of 1995. He has been a licensed Funeral Director-Embalmer in the State of Rhode Island since March 1996. He was a former Funeral Director for the George C. Lima Funeral Home Bristol from 1996 to1998. He is a Funeral Director for the Sansone Funeral Home in Bristol, RI, from 2000 to the present, and for the Buckler-Johnston Funeral Home, Westerly, RI, and S.R. Avery Funeral Home in Hope Valley, RI, from 2006 to the present.

He was a former paramedic for the Warren & Bristol Rescue’s 1990-1998, former Captain of the Warren Rescue in 1992, Active member and Secretary for the Warren Fire Department Massasoit Hook & Ladder Company # 1, a member Bristol County Elks #1860, Past Grand Knight Bristol Knights of Columbus Council #379.

Ray and his wife Fran are active communicants of St. Jean Baptiste Church where both are Ordinary Ministers of the Holy Eucharist and active volunteers at both St. Jean Baptiste Church and St. Mary of the Bay Church in Warren, RI. Ray is a member of the St. Jean Baptiste and St. Mary of the Bay Cemetery Commission, Treasurer at St. Vincent DePaul and St. Jean Baptiste Church, and member of the Rhode Island Funeral Directors & National Funeral Directors Association.
Ms. Karen L. Gardiner, Adminstrative Assistant

Karen has been the Admistrative Manager for both the Buckler-Johnston and the S.R. Avery Funeral Homes for the past fifteen years. They say behind every successful man there is a woman "pushing" and I am she.
Phil Smith, Ambassador

Phil graduated from the Westerly (RI) High School in 1962 and New England Technical Institute in 1963 with a certificate in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration. He was employed by General Dynamics Electric Boat Division for 42 years. At Electric Boat Division he was a Weight Engineer where he was responsible for the ballasting of Submarines. He was also a Safety/OSHA Compliance Officer for the Division. His hobbies include auto racing, where he was a NASCAR Track Steward for over 20years at the Stafford Motor Speedway and the Waterford Speedbowl, both in Connecticut. He has been a boater for over 50 years and has cruised New England and New York waters extensively. He also has an antique car, a 1938 Ford, that he has restored.
Estelle Cryan, Ambassador

Estelle Cryan worked as an Administrative Ward Secretary at the Westerly Hospital from 1968 to 2002, and was President of the Westerly Hospital Auxiliary, where she served from 2004 to 2006. In that capacity, she helped organize golf tournaments, raise scholarship funds, promote the Lights of Love program and the annual book fair. She was instrumental in developing a hospital bereavement support group where she was available 24-hours a day. She was a Trustee of the Westerly Hospital from 2002 to 2004. During the many years Estelle was involved with the Westerly Hospital, she was very supportive of women who wanted to go back to school. She encouraged and nurtured nurse’s aides to become nurses, and helped them further their careers. She is a past State Division President of the International Sunshine Society. Estelle as been a role model to many. She is a true example of a multi-tasker before the phrase was even coined.