Anita Easterbrooks

Anita Joly Easterbrooks, age 93, passed away at John Clarke Nursing Center - her home for the past 18 months - on Saturday, January 13, 2024. Born in East Greenwich, RI, and raised in Wickford, RI, she was the daughter of the late Armand F. and Margaret (Adams) Joly. She was predeceased by her husband of 53 years, Alan J. Easterbrooks. She resided in Narragansett for 65 years and was a member of the Wakefield Baptist Church for over 60 years.

Anita graduated from North Kingstown High School in 1948 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development from the University of Rhode Island in 1952. During her time at URI, Anita also pledged the Lambda Beta chapter of Chi Omega sorority.

Anita was a homemaker while raising her four children, and later worked as a bookkeeper for her husband’s professional engineering firm. She also had a long history of volunteer work including many years at the South County Hospital Information Desk and coordinating and delivering meals to those in need for FISH and Meals on Wheels.

Anita was an avid gardener, participating for many years in the Indian Run Garden Club including serving as its president. She was an accomplished artist and a member of an organized painting group for many years. She was also active with many friends in several local groups including the “Hot Y’ers” of the South County YMCA, and the Juliets.

She and her husband Alan enjoyed singing together in the Wakefield Baptist Church Choir, sailing (including cruises to Bermuda, Maine and Chesapeake Bay), and both were avid readers. They traveled by car throughout North America on four separate coast-to-coast trips that totaled over 30,000 miles, visiting family, friends and countless National Parks. Other adventures of Anita’s included trips to England and Austria, a river cruise in Germany, and a cruise to Columbia and the Panama Canal.

However, no pastimes or activities exceeded her joy in spending time with her family, her sister, and enjoying her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. And she was absolutely thrilled to welcome twin great-granddaughters in the last months of her life.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful caregivers of John Clarke Nursing Center of Middletown, RI for their amazing and compassionate care during Anita’s final 18 months.

Anita was the sister of the late Carolyn Johnson of Hope Valley, RI. She is survived by three sons and one daughter – John Easterbrooks (Susan) of Yakima, WA, Carol Throop (Mitchell) of Greenwich, NY, David Easterbrooks (Ann) of Cranston, RI, and CDR. USN-Ret. James Easterbrooks (Julie) of Chesapeake, VA; six grandchildren (Shannon, Lindsay, Elizabeth, Paul, Susannah, Eric); five great-grandchildren (Emmett, Haven, Brooke, Charlotte, Eloise), two nieces (Alix, Susan); and two nephews (Steven, Richard).

Her funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 22nd at Wakefield Baptist Church, 236 Main St., Wakefield. The service will be preceded by calling hours from 9:00-10:00 a.m. in Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia St., Wakefield. Burial will be in the Rhode Island Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, Exeter, where she will be laid to rest with her husband. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the Wakefield Baptist Church Memorial Fund, John Clarke Senior Living, or Habitat for Humanity.