Holly Dorothy (Smith) Garceau, 69, passed away peacefully on January 22, 2026, surrounded by her family. After ten years with dementia, Holly's grace never stopped reaching the people who loved her, and she will be deeply missed.

Holly was the beloved wife of Alfred Garceau. Al and Holly met while working together at Old Mountain Lanes before embarking on 41 years of marriage marked by devotion, laughter, and steadfast love. Alfred was not only her husband, but her constant partner and protector while standing by her through every season of life, and, in her later years, caring for her with extraordinary patience, tenderness, and strength. Holly loved traveling alongside Alfred as he competed in marathons across the country, cheering him on and turning each race into another shared adventure.

Holly is survived by her siblings Nancy, Neil, and Roderick. Motherhood was Holly's greatest honor and joy. She poured herself into raising her daughters Emily, Eliza, and Kati with a nurturing spirit and an endless well of affection. Holly had a special love for babies and young children; she delighted in the simple wonder of watching them grow. That same attentive love continued into grandmotherhood, where she was a cherished "Grammy" to Madelyn, Chloe, Eli, Rilynn, and Cailyn.

Born and raised in Narragansett, Rhode Island, Holly carried the ocean in her heart for her entire life, and many of her happiest hours were spent at Narragansett Beach. Her life was filled with adventure, creativity, and kindness, and she touched countless hearts along the way. Holly worked in many professions, from serving in the pharmacy benefit management field as a coder for companies such as SXC and Blue Cross Blue Shield to earning her real estate license. Holly found her greatest joy in giving her time to others, and she demonstrated this by starting her own daycare center and teaching classes at the YMCA. Holly was a friend of Bill W., and she helped many people find their way to sobriety with compassion and steadfast support. With her warm smile and overflowing joy, she left an imprint on everyone she met.

A woman of quiet faith, Holly trusted God through every season of life, best exemplified by her favorite prayer:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

Visitation for Holly will be held on Friday, January 30th, from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM in the Avery-Storti Funeral Home, Wakefield, RI. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated immediately thereafter at 12:00 PM in Saint Francis of Assisi Church, 114 High St., Wakefield.