Ellen Therese Valois

Ellen Therese (Rainville) Valois, 92, of Narragansett, died on Dec. 24, 2020. She was the only child of Alice (Heroux) and Joseph Rainville. She graduated from St. Xavier Catholic High School in Providence. She was married to her high school sweetheart, Louis J. Valois, for 67 years, before his passing in 2018. Together they raised four daughters. Over the years Ellen worked as a telephone operator, assistant librarian, employment counselor and as an activity director at a nursing home. Many of her paintings decorated her Narragansett home. She enjoyed gardening, dancing, and taking daily walks with her husband. As a mother Ellen was a stretcher of budgets, maker of Halloween costumes and winter coats, baker of Christmas cookies and casseroles, and a singer of lullabies and Broadway hits. She struggled with anxiety and depression periodically in her life, facing them with great courage. When dementia severed both her understanding of the world around her and her freedom, she still managed to blow kisses and befriend people with her million-dollar smile. Survivors include her daughters: Jocelyn Walters and wife Cindy Clardy, Southfield, MI; Victoria Valois, Wakefield; Paulette Holbrook and husband Steve, Wakefield; Beth Richardson and husband Mac, Charlestown; Grandchildren: Jason Walters, Jennifer Ellis, and Julie Olivero, all Michigan; Elizabeth Subasic, Idaho; Tristan Holbrook, Providence; Zac Richardson, Charlestown; Andre Richardson, New Hampshire; Sarah Richardson, Maine; David Richardson, Hope Valley; eight great grandchildren; cousin Claire Fortier, Manville. Her family wishes to recognize the truly heroic efforts of the staff at Brookdale South Bay Nursing Facility and of HopeHealth Hospice. Despite a mountain of Covid 19 challenges, these human lights sent out warmth and kindness beyond any call of duty. Anyone wishing to honor her name may donate to HopeHealth Hospice, 1085 N. Main St., Providence, RI 02904. A celebration of her life will take place in the post-Covid spring/summer of 2021. Her cremated remains will be returned to St. James Parish, Manville, and interred with her parents. Anyone wishing to honor her memory should laugh often, sing out loud, share beauty, and if possible, see Paris.