Elva B. Kanakry

Elva Bertoncini Kanakry, 92, of Narragansett, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Monday, December 1, 2025. She was the loving wife of John S. Kanakry for 63 years. She was the youngest daughter of the late Eliseo Luigi Bertoncini and Gilda Rosaria (Pierucci) Bertoncini.

Elva was proud to be an Italian American. Her heritage shaped her life not only with her cooking, but the Italian language (always dropping in Italian phrases and quips when she spoke). Throughout her life she loved to garden, read, and most especially she loved to travel with her husband and family. She visited all fifty US states, and she went to Italy over 12 times to tour the country and to visit her family's village in Lucca, Italy.

Elva was both a 1st grade teacher and a Speech and Language Pathologist helping pre-school children with delayed speech. She loved to garden, read, and do puzzles, but her greatest love was her family. "Family is Everything" was one of her most used phrases.

Those who knew Elva were touched by her strength, her kindness, the sound of her laugh, and her humor.

Besides her husband she is survived by her children, Lisa A. Kanakry (Bob Duluk), John L. Kanakry (Susan), Mary Anne K. Clarke (Jim), and four grandchildren, Kayla (Theo), Marissa, Mary Beth, and Jack. She was the sister of the late Emo Bertoncini and Elena Pimentel.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, December 6th, 2025, at 11 AM at Christ the King Church, 180 Old North Rd, Kingston, RI. The Funeral Mass will also be livestreamed at Funerals ' Christ the King Catholic Church Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Association.

"Don't Cry Because It's Over; Smile Because It Happened." - Dr. Seuss