Ann D. Dorgan

Ann Dorgan Obituary

DORGAN, ANN D. (O'DONNELL), 87, of Great Road, North Smithfield, died on Monday, September 3, 2007 at Rhode Island Hospital. She was the wife of Thomas A. Dorgan, who died on May 14, 2007.

Born in Providence, the daughter of the late John B. and Ann (Deignan) O'Donnell, Ann lived in Warwick and Scituate before moving to North Smithfield in 2005.

Mrs. Dorgan was a gifted artist and sculpturist. She exhibited her works at shows in Rhode Island and Santa Barbara, California, and taught at her Garden Gate Studio in Warwick. She was a member of the Daughters of Isabella at St. Benedict's Church in Warwick.

Ann is survived by two sons, Thomas A. Dorgan, Jr. of Scituate, RI, and Kevin M. Dorgan of Meredith, NH; four daughters, Anne Marie Omweg and Regina M. Bharoocha of North Smithfield, Virginia M. Brosnan of Warwick, Monica M. Martin of Coventry; nineteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She was the mother of the late Maureen Dorgan, sister of the late John B., Michael D., Robert L. O'Donnell and Mary MacNeill.

Her funeral will be held on Friday, September 7, at 8:30 a.m. from the Peter J. Barrett Funeral Home, 1328 Warwick Avenue, Spring Green, Warwick, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Ss. Peter & Paul Church, Highland Street, West Warwick. Visiting hours are Thursday 5-8 p.m. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery, Pawtucket.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Home & Hospice Care of RI, 169 George St., Pawtucket, RI 02860.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Providence Journal on Sep. 5, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Ann Dorgan

7 Entries

Regina Bharoocha

September 23, 2007

I remember Momma, She was in spectator shoes,red lipstick, French twist,a hat, gloves, and some fantastic perfume and it was so even into her eighty's We shared art lessons in Conn. and trips to Boston to Mrs.Jack Gardeners Palace and every other place to see the Masters. Thank you Mom for giving me the chance to find my own gift and for always being excited in my projects. My children saw you as the ideal Grandma always happy to see them enter a room and always interested in what they were doing. Thank you to you and Daddy for giving all seven of us the best you could give us. Love Jeannie

Katie Omweg

September 11, 2007

My Granny,

In trying to capture you, each word becomes a myopia, neglects another part, negates the whole, so that it seems impossible to build an image of you, impossible to build a mountain of words for you that I might stand atop, that I might climb to know all that you have been and look down to see all that you’ve seen.

Not able to build a mountain of words, but wanting your story to take a form, I imagine instead, that I can make you into a mountain. Then, I can tend to you, as impossible as it seems to tend to a mountain, I can tend to you as you had tended to me: carving out terraces and shrines, clearing paths, making you a world unto you in which you are strong enough to withstand inclemency, a world in which you peacefully reign, majestic.

Every element of you is a crafted part of your being, with a tone, a hue, a key, with a shape, a form, a depth. Every part of you is blended on a palette, then smudged and streaked and touched and glazed into stones, shadows and sediment, flowers, forests, earth worked like clay, carved by time, backgrounds and fore; sometimes, the under painting of parts re-worked giving depth, sometimes, revealing humanity. From every angle, you conjure a new illusion, as great art should.

And, as with many great works, distance is required to capture you in a gaze. With distance, all of your lines become a complete impression; you are a towering whole, protecting and nurturing, directing the clouds and my quests.

You are a masterpiece that I keep in my heart forever.

All my love,
Your Katie

Maureen Bharoocha

September 10, 2007

There is so much I'd like to tell Granny about the amazing life she gave me. She Truly was an original.

Things I'll remember for you:
Banana splits with green cherries on top, pecan cookies, Sunday Brunches, plays at the Lobrero, your roush made out of beets, fantastic hats with wide brims, art lessons in the backyard, dancing for you at the mobile home, old sneakers made new with bright colors and glue, baby dolls, the rosary, angels, your squishy hugs and wet kisses.

Granny all my best and most vivid memories contain you. You've made such an imprint on my soul. You've made me the creative person I am today and that is why, Granny you are my muse. Your being and beauty inspire me. You will forever linger inside of me and all that I do.

I will miss the moments we've shared and our special relationship we've had but mostly I will miss just hearing you say my name.

Good bye Granny

Your darling face,
Maureen

p.s. Oh boy do I have a story to tell Mel Gibson about you!

Thomas Tricarico

September 5, 2007

There are few people one can thank for there very existance, Ann was one of them; ever proud of the fact she was match maker to my parents. I do not have the words to thank her properly. I will always remember her as a great person, wonderful friend, and a beatiful spirit. May God continue to bless all of you.
Tom Tricarico

monica martin

September 5, 2007

My Mother, Our Granny,
An indomitable spirit, passionate crusader, whimsical artist, mystical woman and
oh, so very, very human.
She was supposed to go on forever.

For the full stretch of her 87 years, she had a thirst for Life, for Knowledge of people, culture and countries. History, Politics, Religion, all the hot bed subjects, were her domain. She felt it important to discuss, debate and argue over them because they represented issues of freedom and justice that everyone should care about. If you didn’t, she’d do her best to get you to! She was engaged in current events, had clear convictions about the Rockerfeller’s, Third World Order, dirty dog politics and the robbing of the young people of this country of their ability to survive, own homes and raise families. So often she’d be frustrated as her energy and focus far outlasted her children’s willingness or attention span on some of these topics. My mother found her stage, however, in gatherings of young people, friends and new acquaintances. Often, I’d sit back and watch her enchant those around her for hours with stories of her youth or her questioning and interest in what they were involved with or discovering in life. It made her feel alive, vital, valued and cherished.

I remember the moment I realized my mother was more than just “a mother”. Like a diamond, she had many more facets to her that demanded expression. We were standing in the mirror one morning in California, getting ready for the day ahead. She was 59, beautiful, hair styled in an upsweep, red lipstick in place, her cheeks blushed pink. Looking at the reflection she said, “You know, it’s just so hard to see the woman in the mirror, it’s hard to believe that’s me, I feel so young inside, my mind is still the young girl of 18.” I could see in that moment she was 18, a fabulous and sought after dancer at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, a student at Rhode Island School of Design and had just met Tom, the adorable guy with a dimple in his chin that only had eyes for her. I was 23 and I thought she has been as I am, she has known and felt the passions, desires, asked the questions, sought meaning and understanding of life, just like everyone else. From that day, I always thought of my mother as a woman, an individual. She had dreams, hopes and aspirations that had nothing to do with me and everything to do with the fact that we get one trip through this life. I was important but I wasn’t her whole story. She loved us, she did the best she knew how, no more, no less than we all have done, are doing or will do in the future. Not one of her children fill the shoes they wear today without a very large debt of gratitude to her tenacity, courage and love. She was there and present for us, in the ways she was capable of and understood as correct.

In her later years, it became incredibly important to Granny to be a source of Love, Acceptance and Understanding to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She wanted so much to be apart of their lives, to inspire and encourage their hopes and dreams. She had a lifetime of experience and wisdom to share with them. She longed to advise them in the way of things political and spiritual. Granny wanted each of them to have backbone, self esteem, belief in their beauty and potential. Granny was proud of each and every one. Her concern and joy for their circumstance was real. In her fervor and expansiveness, she imbedded her smile, humor, personality and character into the minds and hearts of those who knew and loved her.

My mother, Our Granny,
She was supposed to go on forever……..

Solicitude and peace is a search for those left behind,
Ann is off, painting the majestic vistas of her heaven and dancing into eternity with Tom.

Anne Brassard

September 5, 2007

I love you Ann, you have taught me so much about faith and love. I will forever be grateful for your friendship! I envy you being able to meet our sweet Lord! Love, Anne

Marilyn O'Donnell

September 5, 2007

Aunt Ann was a very persistant artist and supporter of pro life. She often combined themes of the holy family( Mary and the infant Jesus) into her art work, which she often used as a way to open discussions about the precious gift that life is. She didnt mind if people objected to her opinions because she really cared about the unborn. She was very passionate about her love for God and sharing love with everyone she knew. Even if she didn't like someone she would pray for them. She and my parents greatly influenced how I came to view Christian faith in everyday life.
The gift of painting was her way of appreciating the work of God the great creator. She was a really talented portrait and landscape painter, and graduated from the Rhode Island School of design. Her love for God and her loving Husband uncle Tom made it possible for her to be able to continue to paint and show her work, while raising her family. I imagine Ann, Maureen, Uncle Tom and my parents, and many others are all together now rejoycing in the presence of our almighty Father in Heaven.

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