Nancy E. Hudson

WOONSOCKET - Nancy E. Hudson, 91, of Woonsocket, died May 14, 2023 in The Friendly Home, Woonsocket. Born in Providence, she was the daughter of the late Buell W. and Esther (Pratt) Hudson.

A graduate of Woonsocket High School class of 1949; she graduated from Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut in the class of 1953 where she majored in history.

Following graduation Ms. Hudson began work with the Woonsocket Call - a newspaper established in 1892 by her grandfather Samuel E. Hudson and Andrew J. McConnell, and following the path of her father, eventually became secretary-treasurer of the corporation and editor of the newspaper before its sale to Ingersoll Publications in 1984. Prior to its sale, the Call had become the second largest daily publication in Rhode Island.

Ms. Hudson had a prolific memory. She wrote the Sesquicentennial History for St. James Episcopal Church in 1982; was a contributing author to "Woonsocket: A Centennial History (1988)", and was cited as one of the major bibliographical references in the Application to secure National Historic Registration designation for the Philmont Worsted Company building in Woonsocket.

She was also a member of The Episcopal Charities Fund of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, as well as on a variety of Diocesan committees. She was widely known for her work with the Girl Scouts of America; the YWCA; the United Way of Southern New England; The Ballou Home for the Aged; The Nightingale Fund, Inc.; The Woonsocket Hospital; the Prescott Beach Memorial Food Bank; Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Woonsocket; and the Kentish Artillery of East Greenwich - to which she presented a rare 1860 Civil War enlistment roster. In 2000 she received the Bishop Higgins Award for Distinguished and Meritorious Services for Episcopal Charities. In 2013 Nancy was recipient for award from Association of Fund Raising Professionals as a Partner in Philanthropy. And she worked with the Rev. Frederick K. Jellison on researching and authoring the Episcopal Charities Fund historical publication

Ms. Hudson also loved adventure and loved to travel - not only to Europe which she visited many times, but also to Australia and New Zealand, and to South America where she traveled by boat to the headwaters of the Amazon River.
Along with her parents, she was predeceased by her sister, Susan Hudson.

Her funeral will be held Friday, May 19, 2023 beginning with visitation at Noon in St. James Episcopal Church, 24 Hamlet Ave., Woonsocket, followed by a service at 1 PM. Burial will follow in Union Cemetery, Smithfield Rd., North Smithfield. Arrangements are under the direction of the Holt Funeral Home, 510 South Main St., Woonsocket. In In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Prescott Beach Memorial Food Bank of St. James Episcopal Church, 24 Hamlet Ave, Woonsocket, RI 02895.

www.holtfuneralhome.com