Elaine M. DaRosa

Lincoln - Elaine M. (Duarte) DaRosa, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister who lived a life of faith, generosity, and love died peacefully on Monday, October 6, 2025 at Lakeside Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, North Kingstown. She was the beloved wife of the late Joaquim "Jack" DaRosa, to whom she had been married for fifty-six years before his death.
Born in Mobile, AL, a daughter of the late Manuel John Duarte and Bernice L. (Stafford) Duarte, she had resided in Lincoln for most of her life, moving to North Kingstown in 2002. She was a graduate of Pawtucket High School, Class of 1941.
Mrs. DaRosa worked as a legal secretary under Judge William M. MacKenzie at the former Law Offices of Woolley Blais & Quinn, Pawtucket, and as an administrative assistant for thirty-one years with the Lincoln Water Commission.
A lifelong parishioner of Christ Church, Lincoln, she served as the Parish Clerk, Vestry Member, Junior Warden, Assistant Parish Treasurer, Parish Historian and Superintendent of Sunday Schools. She was a member of the Church Altar Guild for seventy years, serving as secretary and treasurer, was a member of the Mr. & Mrs. Club, and the Adult Education Committee. She chaired the development of the Christ Church Memorial Garden, as well as the Church's 150th Anniversary Historical Book Committee and 175th Anniversary Celebrations. She served as treasurer of the Diocesan Episcopal Church Women, and was a delegate to the Rhode Island and National Episcopal Conventions.
In her community, she was the President of the Saylesville Elementary Parent Teacher Association, President of the Lincoln League of Women Voters, President of the Pawtucket Junior Women's Club and President of the Prospect Hill Reunion Committee. In 1971, she served as chairperson of the Lincoln 100th Anniversary Historical Book Committee, and in 1987, served as chairperson of the Lincoln Bicentennial Constitution Committee. For her efforts in the community, she was recognized by the Cumberland-Lincoln Rotary Club as the 1998-1999 Outstanding Senior Citizen for Cumberland and Lincoln.
She is survived by three daughters, Bernice Simmons and her husband Kenneth of Charlestown, Valerie Breault and her husband Kenneth of Pawtucket; and Claudia Monstrelis, and her husband Peter, of North Kingstown; two sisters, Vivian DeFreitas of Athens, TN, and Joan Joseph of Lincoln; eight grandchildren, Rebecca Simmons DeMetrick, Cassie Monstrelis Rawcliff, Jesse Simmons, Courtney Breault Guilbert, Jacob Simmons, Philip Breault, Jordan Monstrelis and Alexander Monstrelis; seventeen great grandchildren, Anna, Jack, Lillie, Charlie, Eva, Ashley, Eiley, Reiko, Izumi, Roman, Julia, Maya, Addison, Chase, Eleanor, Sophia and Julian. She was the sister of the late Everett Duarte, Edwin Duarte, Leroy David Duarte and Lorraine Sherman.
A Requiem Eucharist will be celebrated Friday, October 17, 2025 at 11:00 AM in Christ Church, 1643 Lonsdale Avenue, Lincoln. Burial will follow in the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Exeter. Family and friends are invited, and may attend visiting hours on Thursday from 4:00 - 7:00 PM at Bellows Funeral Chapel, 160 River Road, Lincoln.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory to the Christ Church Altar Guild, PO Box 245 Lincoln, RI 02865 would be appreciated. For directions or to leave a message of condolence, please visit www.bellowsfuneralchapel.com.
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