Shirley J. (Hodgins) Kezirian

formerly of Blackstone Boulevard, Providence, and London, Ontario, Canada, died peacefully on March 22nd at Tidewall Hospice in Sarasota, Florida.  Predeceased by her beloved husband, Mitchell Kezirian, her parents, Jean and Nelson Hodgins, of London, Ontario, and her step-daughter, Valerie Frank, she is survived by brothers, Howard Hodgins of London, Ontario and Ivan Hodgins of Ottowa, step-children, the Rev. Jennifer Kezirian West (Ben West) of Cranston, Rhode Island, Guy M. Kezirian, MD, FACS (Mary Keefe) of Scottsdale, Arizona and Wayne M. Kezirian, Esq., (Elizabeth Paroli) of Cranston, Rhode Island.  She was devoted to many nieces, nephews, grandchildren and God-children.  In recent years, Shirley was accompanied by her companion, Gerry Murfitt of Orillia, Canada, on many travels and in a wide variety of interesting endeavors.

Shirley enjoyed a remarkable career.  She joined Metropolitan Life Insurance Company at an entry level office position directly out of high school and progressed through a succession of promotions until her retirement as a senior executive at Metropolitan Property and Casualty where she had significant company-wide responsibilities overseeing operations throughout the United States.  Shirley was most appreciative of her affiliation with Metropolitan Insurance, in part because her career brought her to Providence where she met Mitchell, and also because of the significant opportunities that the company offered to women.  She mentored many women during her career and remained in touch with them after her retirement.

Shirley was a person with wide ranging interests who regularly hosted memorable parties, always with a distinctive style and flair and often within hours of returning home from business travel.  While in Canada she was an accomplished singer and treasured her lifelong friendships with the members of the Sweet Adelines who sang with her.  While in Providence, Shirley was a communicant of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church.

Shirley served on several charitable and community boards during her career and supported numerous philanthropic endeavors. She was a 50 year member of the Order of Eastern Star and was awarded her 50 year pin in Lucan, Canada last year.  Friends and family who are interested in remembering Shirley with a charitable gift are invited to make a contribution in her name to a charity of their choosing.  (Those who wish to send flowers might wish to know that Shirley had a strong preference for white floral arrangements.)

Calling Hours will be at Nardolillo Funeral Home, 1278 Park Avenue, Cranston, Rhode Island on Tuesday, March 27th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  A funeral service will be held at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 50 Orchard Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28th.  Burial will follow at the Kezirian family plot at Swan Point Cemetery.   Memorial services will be held at later dates in Sarasota, Florida and London, Ontario.