William A. Lopez Obituary

William "Bill" A. Lopez, 65, of East Providence entered eternal life on November 4, 2021. Bill was the beloved husband of Elizabeth "Liz" (Lema) Lopez. His spirit is carried on by his six surviving children, seven grandchildren, and an extended network of family and friends from all walks of life.
Bill was the son of the late Abelardo and Helen (Meyers) Lopez and was a lifelong East Providence resident. He also spent much time in his father's native Puerto Rico, where he became fluent in Spanish – a skill that came in handy when he and his family traveled abroad and to ensure a strong margarita at his favorite restaurants. Bill was an extrovert and made friends with everyone he met. He could strike up a conversation with just about anyone and would know the details of their life in just a few minutes. He had a unique gift for connecting with people. He was always looking for ways to help others, whether it was by doing them a favor or just simply smiling at a passerby. He was kind to his core and would truly give you the shirt off his back. He took care of his neighbors and never asked for anything in return. He could always be counted on to offer you a cold beverage or a seat at his table for dinner.
Bill's joy was his family. He delighted in having his wife and all his children around him. He especially loved to host holiday and birthday gatherings at the pool at his home on South Broadway. He was a true family man and was always lending a hand however he could to his sons and daughters. He was also fiercely loyal to his family and protected them at all costs. Throughout his life, Bill made sacrifices and decisions that would better the lives of his children.
He was a member of the Carpenter's Local Union 330 for 20+ years until his retirement. He valued his time in the union, both building skills and introducing young, motivated workers into a network that would help them keep steady work. Through his work in the union, Bill became a master craftsman and parlayed those skills into home improvement projects. He was constantly tinkering with things at home and in his rental properties to make them function better. Bill had every tool imaginable and was happy to lend them out or put them to use for any of his children or friends at a moment's notice.
It was through his woodworking and carpentry skills that Bill's creativity truly shined. For him, it was not enough to just get something done, he had to put his own unique touch on every project and make sure things were done correctly so they would last forever. He was also a collector of things and would give them a reimagined second life before letting them go to waste. Over the years, Bill had countless cars and boats that he loved to maintain, including a '91 Corvette and '15 Harley Davidson, but it was his recently acquired '65 Cobra that was his lifelong dream car. His gift to himself for his 65th birthday last January, Bill truly turned heads when he drove down the street. He loved to take Liz out for rides on the motorcycle or in the convertible, especially to their favorite oceanside restaurants for a night out.
He is survived by his daughter Kimberly, her husband Stephen Babcock and their children Taylor and Khloe of Swansea, son William Jr. and his partner Ashley Johnson of East Providence, son Nathan and his partner Corlies Black of Wickford, son Lee, his wife Gretchen and their children Paris and Sydney of Wrentham, son Daniel "Danny" of Palm Harbor, FL and his children Mason and Olivia, and daughter Kerri Weaver and her husband Brad of Pawtucket. He was pre-deceased by his son Jamiel Paiva, whose daughter is Zoe. He was beloved by his own dogs Mika and Kuma, plus his children's dogs Kaiser and Roko, and they could always count on him to sneak them a doggy bone when no one was looking. Additionally, Bill leaves behind close friends too numerous to list, but not forgotten, whom he cherished.

Bill's family asks that you honor his memory by taking care of others through small acts of kindness.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, November 12, 2021, from 4-7 P.M. with a service to follow at 7 P.M. in the Perry-McStay Funeral Home, 2555 Pawtucket Avenue, East Providence, RI. Burial will be private.