Obituaries

Naomi Ketz

Naomi Ketz, 92, of Warren, RI, passed away on Tuesday, February 1, 2022 in Grace Barker Nursing Home in Warren. The daughter of the late Eugene and Mary (Gonsalves) Delomba and the wife of the late Edward Ketz, she was a lifelong resident of Riverside, RI. Naomi lived a simple life and enjoyed bowling, dancing and going to the casino whenever she could in her free time. Naomi Ketz She is survived by her three sons, Edward “Butch” Ketz Jr. of Norfolk, VA, David Ketz of Riverside, RI and Richard “Buzzy” Ketz of Warren, RI, eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. She was the mother of the late Cynthia Parr and the sister of the late Virginia Papi, Clara Emery and Dolores Bickheart.

Services are with Smith Funeral & Memorial Services, 8 Schoolhouse Rd. Warren, RI where the family will receive relatives and friends for visitation on Friday, February 11, 2022 from 9-11AM. Burial will follow at 11:30AM at gate of Heaven Cemetery, 550 Wampanoag Trail, East Providence, RI 02915. In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 245 Waterman St #306, Providence, Rhode Island 02906. For tributes, please visit www.wjsmithfh.com

Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Durfee

Former Executive Director of Girl Scouts of Rhode Island, Inc., Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Durfee, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2022 at Tockwotton on the Waterfront. Born in Fall River, Massachusettrs on March 9, 1924, the daughter of Sarah (Marnoch) and George Dwelly Durfee, she resided in Dover, New Hampshire for many years, graduating from Dover High School in 1941, and from The University of New Mary Durfee Hampshire in 1944 where she was president of the Women’s Athletic Association, a member of Mortar Board, and the Phi Kappa Phi honorary society. She received a Master of Science degree from Wellesley College in 1953. She was a lifetime member of the First Parish Congregational Church and a founder of the Sherwood Tennis Club in Dover, a former member of the Cocheco Country Club and the Wentworth-by-the-Sea Golf and Tennis Club.

Miss Durfee taught Physical Education and was a Student Advisor at Bates College 1944-1946 and at the Northfield School for Girls from 1946-1952. Long interested in outdoor education and leadership training, she served on the Board of Directors of the New England Section, American Camping Association, the ACA National Day Camping Standards Committee, and developed widely used programs of Counselor Training and Campcraft Fundamentals.

In 1953, Miss Durfee joined the national staff of Girl Scouts of the USA, as a Program and Camping Advisor at the national headquarters in New York and at the New England Region branch office in Boston. From 1954 until 1962, she was Program Advisor on the Regional I Council Development staff team, and in 1962, became Executive Director at CEO for the newly consolidated statewide council, Girl Scouts of Rhode Island, Inc., serving fortyfive communities in RI and border states. She retired in 1994. After retirement, she served briefly as a literacy volunteer at the East Providence Community Center. She attended Newman Congregational Church in Rumford.

She was an avid tennis player and gardener.

She is survived by several cousins.

In accordance with Betty’s wishes, private funeral services were held with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery, Fall River, MA.

Arrangements are in the care of the Home of J.H. WILLIAMS & CO., 210 Taunton Avenue, East Providence, RI.

Death Notices

• Liam Nolan Leddy 59, formerly of Pawtucket Avenue, Riverside died peacefully on January 17, 2022 in Dayton, OH. • Dennis Roger Brooks, of East Providence passed away at Rhode

Island Hospital on January 23, 2022, at the age of 71. • Ogden M. Dodge, 90, of Riverside, formerly of Barrington, died

Thursday, January 27, 2022, at HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice

Center in Providence. • Eleanor (Milner) Tavares, “Ellie in the Deli”,79 of Rumford, originally from Seekonk passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home, Monday January 31,2022 after a brief illness. • It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our mother, Phyllis H. Hull (Hathaway), 91, on Monday, January 31, 2022 after a fall two weeks prior. • Barbara E. Loomis, 101, of Warren and formerly of Bay View

Avenue, East Providence passed away on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at her home. • Blandina C. Campos, 97, passed away on Wed, Feb 2, 2022. • Floyd L. Connelly, 79, of Riverside, died unexpectedly at home on February 2, 2022. • Holly Hitchcock Furtado, 67, of Riverside, died very peacefully on February 3, 2022 in her home that she so loved. • Patricia A. Cabral, formerly of East Providence, passed away on

Friday, February 4th at the age of 74. • Margaret R. Brasileiro, 98, of Rumford, passed away on Saturday,

February 5, 2022 at the Hattie Ide Chaffee Home. • Patricia A. Primmer, 87, of Riverside, passed away peacefully on

Sunday, February 6, 2022 at her home. • Eugene F. Duquette, 91, of East Providence, passed away on

Monday, February 7, 2022. • Joseph Gomes, 102, of Temple Drive, Riverside, died peacefully on February 10, 2022 at home surrounded by his loving family. • Former Executive Director of Girl Scouts of Rhode Island, Inc.,

Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Durfee, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2022 at Tockwotton on the Waterfront. • Mary (Estrella) Pizzi, 74, of East Providence, died Friday, February 11,2022 at Rhode Island Hospital. • Mary L., (Coyle) LaSalle, 96, of Shore Road, Riverside, died peacefully at home on February 12, 2022 surrounded by her loving family. • James E. O’Brien, 88, passed away on Monday, February 14, 2022 at the Philip Hulitar Hospice Center. • Dolores C. (Johnson) Falaguerra, 89 of East Providence, died

Wednesday, February 16,2022 at Miriam Hospital. • Esther M. (McCabe) Nardoza, 93, of Indian Road, Riverside, died peacefully on February 17, 2022 at home surrounded by her loving family. • Madeleine B. Mc Manus, passed away peacefully on Friday,

February 18, 2022, at Grace Barker Nursing Home in Warren. • John R. “Jack” Arruda, 87, of East Providence, passed away on

Saturday, February 19,2022 at home, surrounded by his family.