Janet Kenahan-Hanrahan

KENAHAN-HANRAHAN, JANET ELIZABETH (SYLVIA) 88, of Riverside, died on Wednesday, April 8, 2015. While she passed away in peace and comfort at her home surrounded by her family, she remained true to her plan of not going gently into that good night over the course of her private but courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Born January 10, 1927 in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts she relocated to Pawtucket, Rhode Island and graduated from William E. Tolman Senior High School in 1944. She then joined the United States Cadet Nurse Corps and received her nursing diploma from the Rhode Island Hospital School of Nursing in July, 1947. Her career as a Registered Nurse spanned five decades of loyal service and compassionate care at Rhode Island Hospital, The Providence Lying-In Hospital and Women & Infants Hospital. Forged by the Great Depression and a proud member of the nation's Greatest Generation, she loved her God, her country and her family. She was pre-deceased by her parents Joseph Duarte and Margaret Mary (Donohue) Sylvia, siblings Richard Sylvia and Barbara Bradbury, husbands James J. Kenahan and David R. Hanrahan, daughters Sylvia Boisvert and Theresa Kalhori, grandchild Michael Boisvert and nephew David Bradbury. She is survived by children Nancy (Domenic) Napolitano, Patsy (Michael Etazadi) and Michael (Martha) Kenahan, grandchildren Lisa Boisvert, Bianca (Anthony) Sculimbrene, Domenic (Erica) and John (Katie) Napolitano, and Kathryn, Joseph and Matthew Kenahan, great-grandchildren Corey and Katelyn Boisvert, Isaac and Ethan Sculimbrene, Myles and Colby Napolitano, nieces Margaret Raymond, Helen Bradbury and Anne Hewitt, nephews Frank (Norah) and Robert (Beth) Bradbury, Thomas and Jeffrey Sylvia, niece-in-law Karen Bradbury, adult step-children David, Paul, Thomas, Timothy, Michael and Susan Hanrahan, Maureen Paul and Kathleen Rossi and sons-in-law Gary Boisvert and Bijhan Kalhori. A prolific reader and avid globetrotter, she was a quiet but magnanimous philanthropist, providing monetary support to hundreds of local, national and international charities. In 2012, she and members of her family were founding benefactors of Trinity Volunteer Corps, a new organization that provides inclusion programs for young adults with disabilities. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be made in Janet's name to: Trinity Volunteer Corps, 703 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Friends and relatives are invited to VISITATION at Saint Brendan Catholic Church, 60 Turner Avenue, Riverside, Friday, April 10, 2015 from 9:00 to 9:45 am immediately followed by a MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL also at Saint Brendan Catholic Church at 10:00 am. The COMMITTAL SERVICE will take place at Highland Memorial Park Cemetery, 1 Rhode Island Avenue, Johnston. Arrangements by PERRY-MCSTAY FUNERAL HOME.