Kathleen M. "Kathie" (Carter) Kelleher

Kathleen “Kathie” May Carter Kelleher was a caring and loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend.  She passed away peacefully on February 14, 2024, having lived a full life at the age of 83.

She was born to Kathleen and Elwood Carter on April 29, 1940 in Providence, Rhode Island.  After graduating from Warwick Veterans Memorial High School and Bryant College, she married her high school sweetheart, George “Dick” Kelleher, who survives. They were married for 64 years.

Kathie and Dick lived in France, England, and in Connecticut until retirement, when they moved back to their home state of Rhode Island.  Together they had, and are survived by two daughters, Karen Kelleher and Trish Kelleher(Tim Parke), and two granddaughters, Sydney Parke and Tess Parke. Kathie cherished her daughters and granddaughters and had great pride in their achievements.  She played an important role in raising Sydney and Tess, babysitting each of them two days a week until they started kindergarten.  She taught them to be curious and to find joy in the small things.   Her family was her greatest joy.

Kathie is survived by her brother Woody Carter, and was predeceased by her parents, and her sister Lee Carter Bozeman.

Kathie was smart and curious.  After her children started elementary school, Kathie went back to college to study archeology.  She stayed engaged with studying the past long after she graduated.  Kathie volunteered with the Connecticut State Archeologist, researched and documented her family’s history, and was President of the Narragansett historical society.   Kathie and Dick enjoyed many vacations with close friends, with Kathie planning experiences that ranged from touring National Parks in the western U.S. to visiting the 55 foot tall Jolly Green Giant statue in Blue Earth, Minnesota. 

Kathie loved nature and dedicated herself to preserving it.  She started with a passion for birdwatching - listening to countless hours of bird calls to hone her ear and traveling around the northeast on birding tours.  Kathie was a founding member and President of the Friends of Canonchet farms, a nature and ecological organization that works to protect the environment in a section of Narragansett, RI.  She spent many joyful hours strategizing with other members to preserve a local wetland and forest, planning hikes, giving nature talks on walks, ripping out invasive plants, and helping others value nature's beauty and worth.

Kathie was smart and curious, joyful and funny, and a strong, resilient, and feisty woman.  Her spirit is alive and well in her daughters and granddaughters.

A celebration of her life will take place at a later date.  Kathie requested no flowers, but welcomed memorial gifts in her name sent to the Friends of Canonchet Farm https://canonchet.org/support.php

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