William D. LeMoult

On June 5th, 2023, our beloved father, husband and friend, William “Bill” LeMoult passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his loving family—listening to his favorite songs, and likely, singing along in his beautiful mind.

Those that knew and loved Bill know that the earth lost an exceptional man, but the heavens gained a magnificent spirit.  Even in his worst times through sickness and pain, Bill could muster a smile, tell a joke or chuckle along with yours.

He was born to Fern (Bailey) LeMoult and Adolph John LeMoult on November 17th, 1936 in Portchester, New York.  As a kid, teen, father and adult, his favorite place on earth was Huletts Landing in Lake George, New York where he would swim, fish, cook and eat the fish, hike and relax with his siblings, parents, wife, kids and friends—as many summers as possible for the past 80+ years.

Bill was the second oldest of 5 kids.  He loved how creative his older brother Dolph was and always said he wished he could paint and draw like him. His younger brother Jack, who was also an attorney, was not only someone that would challenge thought with Bill in friendly spars about life, faith, and politics, but also just a dear friend to Bill.  His youngest brother Mike held a special place in his heart, not only because he was his little brother but because he was always in awe of his musical talent and often said he wished he could play the piano and guitar like him.  His little sister Fern was the fifth child, and he adored her spirited personality.  Bill and his brothers loved to give her boyfriends a hard time when they were young as big brothers do, but they all loved and protected her. 

As adults, the siblings loved to huddle around a piano and sing as a family with their mom, dad and kids joining in, often to a family favorite called Willie the Weeper (also the name of his boat) along with a slew of classic tunes.  It brought them so much joy, as it did others because the family could really carry a tune!

As a young man, he loved swimming and was quite a boxer, although anyone who knows Bill knew that he was a lover not a fighter!  In his retirement, Bill loved fishing, golfing, cooking, reading, and writing letters to the editor, which were usually published!

Bill was a very spiritual man, attending retreats regularly as a young adult where he would write beautiful letters to his beloved wife and children sharing vulnerabilities, and words of wisdom all guided by his faith—words that only he could string together to bring comfort or clarity to all who read them.  And they weren’t just words, Bill worked every day to try and live a life of love and servitude to others.  He served in the best way possible—by listening and by connecting to family and friends and offering his hand and heart whenever it was needed. 

From his siblings and friends to his coworkers, kids, and kids’ friends, Bill just had a way about him and left a mark on so many hearts, so often being referred to as a ‘second dad.’  In his retirement, Bill worked for the Women’s Resource Center in Rhode Island, offering legal counsel to women suffering from the horrors of domestic abuse, and was honored in Newport at the Hotel Viking with a Men Who Make a Difference award.

But what Bill loved the most was his family.  He met his beautiful bride of 60 years on a ski trip with no snow.  Frances Marie Lagana LeMoult was everything to him.  He made her laugh, and she made him whole.  From the moment he looked into her bright blue eyes to the day that he left this earth he loved her—completely and unconditionally, as evidenced from the way he held her, looked at her, and supported her.  She was smitten with his singing, dancing, and amazing sense of humor all of which she got to see on that ski trip as he sang for the crowd, invited her to dance, and awkwardly asked for her phone number, at the encouragement of his fellow crooner and wingman, his brother Mike. 

Besides his wife he is leaving his son Kenneth William LeMoult and his wife Mary Lou, his daughter Leigh Anne LeMoult Cappello and her husband Michael, and his four precious granddaughters, Christine LeMoult, Austin LeMoult Godwin, Amanda LeMoult, and Katie Cappello with broken hearts but a lifetime of loving memories.

Bill was strong and brave, and also not afraid to cry.  It didn’t happen often, but it was guaranteed waterfalls each time he held a new granddaughter.  He also leaves behind his great grandson Beckham Kenneth Godwin and Beckham’s brother-in-the-making!

Bills kids feel so blessed to have had such a wonderful dad, role model, mentor, and…let’s face it…lawyer in their lives.  LOL.  Ken will miss being able to count on him for the perfect advice—or maybe just the perfect question—at the perfect time.  Leigh, his little birdie, will miss his hugs, his healing words, and that special little look in his eye that just said, ‘everything is going to be alright.’

Rest in peace you beautiful man.  You earned it.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, July 1, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Alexander Church, 221 Main Street, Warren, RI.  Interment will be private.  Visiting hours are respectfully omitted.  In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Women's Resource Center, 114 Touro Street, Newport, RI 02840 in his memory would be appreciated (www.wrcnbc.org). 

Arrangements with PRATA-GALLOGLY Funeral Home.

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