(10/26/14) Dorothy E. (Tanner) Saunders, 84, of Sparrow Drive, Westerly, was called home peacefully by Our Savior Jesus on Friday morning, October 24, 2014 at the Westerly Health Center. She was predeceased by her son, Clifford R. Saunders of Stafford Springs, CT. She leaves behind her three loving daughters and their husbands, Elizabeth and Donald Coyne of Amston Lake, CT; Joan and Allyn Soucier of Canterbury, CT and Kathleen and John Smith of Westerly, RI and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also leaves behind her closest and dearest, lifelong friend, Joan Saunders of Little Compton, RI and a brother-in-law Philip Price of Florida. Dorothy was born in Cranston, RI on October 16, 1930, one of four daughters of Clifford W. and Catherine (Raftery) Tanner. She was one of their four daughters and predeceased by Helen Clutter, Mary Coville and Margaret Price. She was a communicant of Saint Clare Church, Westerly, RI. Dottie was silly and fun while enjoying life with her family and friends. She loved the beach, and ocean and travel. She was symbolic and understood symbols at a deep level. God graced Dorothy with the spiritual Gift of Helps (Corinthians I 12:28). She helped so many people in her lifetime and she did this with prayer, love and guidance. She was a teacher of the power or prayer, high morals and values and she spread the Word of God in her teachings. Professionally, Dorothy was the Director of the Norwich, CT Diocesan Office of Family Life. Prior to this position, she served as Director of the Ministry for Divorced, Separated and Remarried Catholics. She was a member of the Diocesan Marriage Board and Family Perspective Team, the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers and the Northern American Conference for Separated, Divorced Catholics. She was a mediator for the Center for Dispute Resolution Services, serving on a team in divorce mediation. She facilitated “New Life, New Love,” a remarriage preparation program. She planned and presented numerous programs and workshops for separated and divorced adults in Eastern Connecticut. She completed clinical pastoral education at Hartford Hospital. She was a Commissioned Lay Minister of the Norwich Diocese. She studied at Holy Apostles College, Cromwell, CT and Eastern Connecticut State University. She was a leader of a support group for separated and divorced Catholics and coordinator of Religious Education at St. Bernard Parish, Rockville, CT. Please join us for a celebration of Dorothy’s life at a Memorial Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of Saint Clare, 62 Crandall Avenue, Misquamicut, RI 02891. There are no calling hours. Burial will follow the Mass at St. Sebastian Cemetery, Westerly, RI. For online condolences please visit www.rushlowiacoifuneralhome.com
View Full Notice → Dorothy E (Tanner) Saunders – Westerly, RI