Mildred E. (Parker) Kelleher

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Mildred E. (Parker) Kelleher, widow of the late John F. Kelleher, died Monday Dec. 1, 2014, in the Westview Nursing Home, she was 97 years old.

Mrs. Kelleher was born in Providence and had been a resident of Warwick since 1954. She attended Hope High School and the Rhode Island School of Design where she holds an honorary BFA. Using a grant from the Department of Surgeon-General, she studied further at the Philadelphia School of Occupational Therapy (at that time part of the University of Pennsylvania). As a registered Occupational Therapist she worked for the Army and the Veteran’s Administration to rehabilitate veterans of World War II. She eventually returned to advertising and became Outlet Company’s copy Chief, a post she held for sixteen years, retiring in 1981.

From 1983 to 1993 she was the Executive Director of the Warwick Arts Foundation. In 1990 she was honored by the city of Warwick with a citation recognizing her devotion to the arts and April 28th of that year was designated “Mildred Kelleher” day. Her prize-winning prints and paintings have been exhibited at the Providence Art Club, the R.I. Watercolor Society, the Warwick Public Library, Holland’s Gallery and the Warwick Museum. They have been purchased both for private enjoyment and to decorate public places. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Warwick Arts Foundation.

She is survived by two sons Stephen Kelleher of Rumford and James Kelleher of Cranston; six grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

Her funeral and interment will be private. Arrangements by the Urquhart - Murphy Funeral Home.

www.murphyfuneralhomes.org