Jacob Thomas Aversa, Avid Athlete and Loving Young Man, Dies at 13

Jacob Thomas Aversa, 13, of Lawnwood Road in Coventry, passed away on Monday, September 9, 2013 at Hasbro Children' s Hospital in Providence. Born in Warwick, he was a son of Karen M. Aversa of Coventry and the late Jeremy S. Dufault.

Besides his mother, he leaves his sister, Skyla R. Aversa of Coventry; his maternal grandparents, Thomas and Gail-Ann (DeCosta) Aversa of Coventry and paternal grandparents, Jay and Laurie Dufault of Warwick and Jeanne Starrett of Cranston; his uncles and aunts, Thomas and Melissa Aversa of Warwick, Kimberly Aversa and Robert Perry of Coventry, Jason Dufault of East Providence and Maggie Dufault of Warwick, and his many cousins and large extended family.

Jacob was an 8th grader at the Alan Shawn Feinstein Middle School in Coventry. An avid athlete, Jacob loved all sports. He played baseball, soccer and his favorite sport, basketball, all with the Coventry Town recreational leagues. He especially enjoyed spending time with his friends “scootering” at the skate park.

Jacob was an organ donor, and he will continue to live on in the lives of the people he helped with his donations. He will always be remembered as a loving, caring, young man.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Jacob's Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday at 10 a.m. in Saints John & Paul Church, Coventry. Burial will be private for the family. Visiting hours will be held Friday from 4-8 p.m. in the IANNOTTI Funeral Home, 415 Washington St. (Rte.117), Coventry.

A memorial event for Jacob will be held Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013 from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Paine Field Skate Park in Coventry, as well.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jacob's name to the New England Organ Bank (www.neob.org), 60 First Ave., Waltham, MA 02451-1106 would be greatly appreciated.

Click here to view Jacob's memorial page, courtesy of Iannotti Funeral Home.