Rose E. Dwyer, 92, passed away at home surrounded by her loving family on June 23, 2024. She was the wife of the late Raymond T. Dwyer Sr. They had been married for 69 years prior to his passing in April 2021. Born in Warwick, she was the daughter of the late John J. and Margaret A. (McCarthy) Hughes. Rose was born on Groundhog Day in 1932, the baby in the family of 11 children, 6 boys and 5 girls. She was a communicant of St. Peters Parish in the Gaspee section of Warwick since 1933 when it was founded. Her father helped to build the church and her brothers were altar boys.
Rose was the devoted mother of Kathleen R. Brennan (Jack), Raymond T. Dwyer Jr. (Pat), Mary F. Dwyer, and Donald E. Dwyer (Lil), all of Warwick. She was also the mother of the late Danny Patrick Dwyer. She is survived by her 12 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
Her dear brother Thomas J. Hughes Sr. is her only living sibling. She was the sister of the late John J. Hughes, Richard T. Hughes Sr., William F. Hughes, Dennis E. Hughes, Michael (Joe) Hughes, Margaret M. Allen, Mary C. Dorrwachter, Ellen E. Goff, and Anna Needham.
While the elders in the family were in military service in World War II, Tom, Anna, Mary, and Rose worked the land and the sea. They were brought up on a farm in Warwick and their father was a shell fisherman. They worked the tides before and after school as needed. Rose still found time to play in a girls’ youth softball league and was recruited by an out of neighborhood team. She kept her strong arm beating the other mothers every year in the softball throw at her sons’ annual little league picnics.
Rose recounted stories of she and her brother Tom pushing a cart of fresh eggs to the neighbors during the Depression. She ensured that no body went hungry throughout her life. She cooked enough to feed an army. Her belief was that if there was nothing left over, someone left hungry.
Rose’s home was open house to all. She was always there, and relished being a stay-at-home mom. Family, neighbors and friends stopped by throughout the day, coffee and conversation were readily available mostly around the kitchen table but on the porch in the summer. Her house was full of kids, animals and visitors, soaking up the loving atmosphere.
Food equaled love. She was known for her apple pies, chowder, deviled eggs, potato salad and baked beans. She was a generous soul distributing food to others and slipping her children and grandchildren a few bucks as they walked out the door.
Rose was a giggler and would lead her sisters and friends with giggling at inopportune times. She found humor in the small things.
Her life’s work was caring for family. On her death bed she repeated for family to stay together. She was proud of her children and grandchildren, telling God they were “great.” In keeping with her love of family, in lieu of flowers, please reach out to a family member with an act of kindness.
Her funeral will be held on Friday, June 28, 2024, at 8:15 form the Barrett & Cotter Funeral Home, 1328 Warwick Avenue, Warwick followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in St. Peter’s Church, 350 Fair Street, Warwick. Her burial will be in Pawtuxet Memorial Cemetery, Warwick.
