Kristina E. Vanech

VANECH, KRISTINA E. (KAPLAN), 59, of Providence, died December 14, 2006 at the Beth Israel Deaconess Center. She was the beloved wife of William D. Vanech.

She was the devoted mother of Dean G.C. Vanech of San Francisco, California, Timothy G.A. Vanech of Canton, Massachusetts, and David C.E. Vanech of Providence, Rhode Island. She had two wonderful daughters-in-law, Eunice Ko of San Francisco, California and Jennifer Vanech of Canton, Massachusetts. She was the loving grandmother of the long-awaited Madeline Bihldorff Vanech and Nathan Dean Vanech of Canton, Massachusetts.

Tina was born in Watchung, New Jersey to Ethel Kaplan and the late United States Navy Captain Leonard Kaplan. She obtained a B.A. and M.A. at New York University. She later moved to Providence with her husband in 1973. She completed her coursework for a Ph.D. in American Civilization at Brown University where she was a teaching assistant from 1975-1980. She devoted her life to her children, grandchildren, friends and those less fortunate. She was an avid reader and a wildlife advocate.

In addition to her mother, Ethel Kaplan, Tina is survived by her brother, Leonard Kaplan, II of Clifton Park, New York, and sisters Elin Kujat of Davidsonville, Maryland, Millicent Kaplan of Watchung, New Jersey and Vikki Oliphant of Alpharetta, Georgia.

Tina will be sorely missed not only by her family and friends but by those whose life she blessed.

Funeral will be will be held Tuesday at 1pm in the Manning Chapel on the Main Green at Brown University. Burial will follow in Swan Point Cemetery. Calling hours Monday 4-7pm in the Monahan Drabble Sherman Funeral Home, 230 Waterman Street, Providence. In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory to American Diabetes Association, 222 Richmond Street, Providence, RI 02903 or to RI Community Food Bank, 200 Niantic Avenue, Providence, RI 02907 or to Community Preparatory School, 125 Somerset Street, Providence, RI 02905 would be appreciated.