Ruth Kerr Parella

Ruth Elizabeth (Kerr) Parella, formerly of Hope St., Bristol, died Friday, July 30, 2010. Born in Fall River, MA, and a lifelong resident of Bristol, Ruth was the daughter of the late Walter Anthony and Maria de Lourdes (Martin) Kerr. She was the wife of the late Gaetano D. “Kelly” Parella, who served as a State Representative from 1971 to 1992. Ruth graduated from Rhode Island College and studied at Rhode Island School of Design and the University of London. She was an Elementary School Teacher in the Bristol School System for 36 years. Following her retirement from teaching, Ruth worked as a tour guide at the Blithewold Mansion in Bristol for five years and the Preservation Society of Newport for ten years. She was active in the Bristol Garden Club and the Bristol Art Museum. Ruth was a communicant of St. Mary of the Bay in Warren. Ruth leaves three daughters: Robin A. Parella of Riverside, Elizabeth M. Parella of New York, NY and Kristin A. Parella of Newport, and three grandchildren, Ruth also leaves a sister, Josephine, wife of VADM (ret) Lando Zech of Falls Church, VA, and two brothers, Walter “Bud” Kerr, and his wife Jan of Roxboro, NC, Dr. Norman Kerr and his wife Melinda of Pensacola, FL. Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Jean Magee and Ethel Anderson. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 9:00AM from the Sansone Funeral Home, 192 Wood Street, Bristol, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM at St. Mary of the Bay Church, 645 Main St., Warren. Burial will follow at the RI Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Exeter. Visiting hours will be held on Monday 4:00-7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Odyssey Health Care, 2374 Post Road, Suite 206, Warwick, RI 02886.

Service Information Cemetery RI Veterans Memorial Cemetery South County Trail Exeter, RI --> Visitation Monday August 2, 2010 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM Sansone Funeral Home 192 Wood Street Bristol, RI 02809 --> Service Tuesday August 3, 2010 10:00 AM St. Mary of the Bay Church 645 Main St. Warren, RI -->