Hortense Ida "Gerry" Westcott

1928 - 2015

Hortense Ida "Gerry" Westcott (Girouard), 86, of East Greenwich, R.I., passed away on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at Riverview Healthcare Community in Coventry. Born in Providence on Dec. 20, 1928, she was the eldest child of Peter Cleophas and Hortense Hurtubise Girouard. She was the wife of the late Edward Cameron Westcott of Cranston.
She graduated from Aldrich High School in Warwick, where she was a member of the class of 1947. Always musically talented, Gerry enjoyed playing piano and guitar, and singing with her sisters. After high school, she spent several years living in California, Virginia and New Mexico. She enjoyed the experience of living in new places and making new, lifelong friends. She loved to recall the fun she had working as a fur coat model in California, and her adventures driving an ice cream truck in New Mexico.
On March 27, 1965, Gerry and Teddy Westcott were married in Warwick. They lived together in East Greenwich with their family. They loved to entertain, and their home was the setting for many gatherings of friends and family. In addition to being a devoted mother, Gerry worked for many years as a bookkeeper and as a certified nursing assistant. Later in life, with encouragement from her dear friend Anna Malaikal, Gerry continued her education, completing business courses at Rhode Island Junior College. A friend to everyone, Gerry will be remembered for her artwork, joke telling, and love of singing.
Gerry spent the last five years of her life at Riverview Healthcare Community in Coventry. Thanks to the wonderful staff, this became a true home for "Mom." She enjoyed many activities, and sharing her gift of song with everyone. The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at Riverview for the heartfelt care they provided during her time there.
Gerry is survived by her four children, David Taylor of Albuquerque, N.M.; Ann Taylor, of East Greenwich; Charles (Emilie Holland) Westcott of West Kingston; and Jeannette (Stephen Connors) Westcott of East Meredith, N.Y.; her eight grandchildren, Dushenka (Andrew) Silverfarb, Aja (Peter Sandman) Myers-Taylor, Dyami (Kelly) Myers-Taylor, Aletha Myers-Taylor, Amyas Myers, Jeselle Myers-Taylor, Eamon Connors and Ada Connors; her four great-grandchildren, Elena Silverfarb, Andri Myers, Sophie Myers-Taylor and Adian Myers-Taylor; by two sisters, Antoinette Murray of Jordanville, N.Y. and Mary Follett of Westerly; a daughter-in-law, Suzette Myers; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Anna Girouard (Cranston) and Alice Pearson (Warwick), and a brother, Peter Girouard (Coventry).
Should friends desire, the family suggests memorial donations may be made to: Riverview Healthcare Activities Fund, 546 Main St., Coventry, RI 02816. Relatives and friends are invited to a memorial service and a celebration of Gerry's life, to be held on Aug. 15, 2015. Details at: http://tinyurl.com/gerrywestcott.