Priscilla Ballou Rice

MERIDEN - Priscilla Ballou Rice (Polly) died at home on Friday, March 22, 2013, from a brief illness, one month after celebrating her 100th birthday with family and friends.

Born in Dorchester, Mass., on Feb. 22, 1913, she was the daughter of Murray and Grace (Smith) Ballou. After graduating from Simmons College in 1937 with a degree in Social Work, she worked at the Newburyport, Mass., YWCA. In 1940 she moved to Meriden, with her husband John. For many years she was a substitute teacher for the Meriden school system. Polly was a member of the League of Women Voters and a lifelong Girl Scout. She was the recipient of the Girl Scout Thanks Badge for her many years of service on the Connecticut Yankee Girl Scout Council Board of Directors and her volunteer work at Yankee Trails Girl Scout Camp. She was an avid fan of UConn Huskies basketball. She was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Meriden and Norway, Maine. In 1976, she and her husband built a camp in Norway, Maine on Lake Pennesseewassee where they had vacationed for many years. She enjoyed reading, bird watching, gardening, golfing, sunbathing and swimming well into her 99th year.

She was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, John Rankin Rice; sister, Barbara Adams and her grandson, Benjamin Rice Davine. She is survived by her son, Richard Rice and his wife, Linda, of Madiso; daughters, Barbara Howard and her husband, William, of Norway, Maine, Nancy Davine, of Hampstead, N.H., and Meredith LaFlamme and her husband, William, of Durham; six grandchildren, Mark and Adam Rice, Andrew Howard and his wife, Cheri, Peter Howard, Meredith Davine, and Jeffrey LaFlamme; two great-grandchildren, Owen Howard and Elsa Davine.

A memorial service will be held this summer in Norway, Maine. Donations may be made in Priscilla's name to the Belfry Fund, Unitarian Universalist Church of Norway 479 Main St. Norway, Maine 04268 or to the Girl Scouts of Connecticut, Fund Development, 340 Washington St, Hartford CT 06106. Arrangements were under the direction of the John J. Ferry & Sons Funeral Home, 88 East Main St., Meriden. For online condolences, please visit www.jferryfh.com