(12/01/14) Mildred E. Kelleher, 97, formerly of Warwick, passed away on Monday, December 1, 2014 at West View Nursing Home where she spent seven years in their extraordinary care. She was the beloved wife of the late John F. Kelleher.
She was born in Providence on September 10, 1917 to George and Berta Parker and was predeceased by her sisters Rosalind Deal and Florence Parker Simister as well as by her brother Harold Parker.
She is survived by her sons, Stephen E. Kelleher of Rumford and James E. Kelleher of Cranston as well as six grandchildren; Erin Alio, Caitlin Kelleher, Gwen Kelleher, William Kelleher, Meghan Kelleher, and Chloe Kelleher. She leaves her beloved great-granddaughter, Lara Alio.
She was a remarkably gifted artist, a skill that she honed from her earliest years. She earned a scholarship to the Rhode Island School of Design and was graduated in 1939. Mildred contributed her skill to the war effort by working as a technical draftsman for the War Department. By warâs end, she had received training as an occupational therapist, a path which led her to meet the love of her life.
She eventually reentered the workforce and found a home in the world of advertising, a natural fit for one so creative. Prior to her retirement she spent fifteen years as the advertising copy chief for the Outlet Company, and served as its in-house historian. Thereafter she served as the Executive Director of the Warwick Arts Foundation. In retirement, Mildred devoted herself to her passions; her art, her lifelong love of reading, and family. She was still producing beautiful works of art in her nineties. As with all true artists, she left the world a little more interesting than she found it.
The services will be private.
Arrangements by the URQUHARTâMURPHY Funeral Home.
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