2022 -- H 8270

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LC005982

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXTENDING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF MARY DONNELLY

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Filippi, Blazejewski, Hull, Fogarty, Cortvriend, Ajello,
and McGaw

     Date Introduced: May 19, 2022

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, It is with sadness that this House has learned of the passing of Mary

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Donnelly, a registered nurse who cared deeply and generously for Block Island's residents for

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more than 55 years; and

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     WHEREAS, In 1958, Mary Donnelly arrived on Block Island with her husband and her

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growing family for what was supposed to be a temporary assignment, but soon became a lifetime

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of caring for the medical needs of island residents and ultimately included establishing a

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charitable fund to help those in need to pay utility bills, mortgage payments, tuition and medical

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bills, or buy food or heating oil; and

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     WHEREAS, As the only licensed medical professional on the island, Mrs. Donnelly

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worked with the rescue squad, served as President of the Medical Services Committee, and was

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one of the founders of the Block Island Medical Center, where she worked when not making

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whatever house calls and home visits were needed; and

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     WHEREAS, In 1984, after seeing first-hand the plight of many of her island neighbors,

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Mrs. Donnelly established The Mary D. Fund, a nonprofit which was funded by collection jar

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donations placed around the island, as well as generous donations from various benefactors, and

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the annual Mary D. Ball. Each year, she was able to raise and allocate about $50,000 to islanders

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in need; and

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     WHEREAS, Mrs. Donnelly continued her nursing until 2013, when at the age of 85, she

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finally retired, but with the help of her daughter, she remained active with the Mary D. Fund until

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2021; and

 

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     WHEREAS, In 2021, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence recognized Mrs.

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Donnelly with the Lumen Gentium Award in Community Service and Charitable Outreach for

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her efforts on behalf of Block Islanders. She was also honored many times with various news

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pieces about her efforts and devotion to the poor; and

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     WHEREAS, A woman of deep faith, Mary Donnelly had been a parish trustee, and

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served as lector, Eucharistic minister, parish council, finance council, and leader in the Ladies

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Guild; and

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     WHEREAS, Mary Donnelly's large and loving family included her late husband, John

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Donnelly, and seven children, Marguerite Donnelly, Patricia Hiller, Mary Ann Tapia, Elizabeth

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Masci, Michael Donnelly, and the late John Donnelly Jr., and Kathleen Donnelly. She was also

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the beloved grandmother of six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; and

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     WHEREAS, There is no doubt that Mary Donnelly, a truly admirable and amazing

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woman, left Block Island a far better place because of her life’s work. She enriched the lives of

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all who knew her, and her empathy and compassion for those in need was boundless and an

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inspiration to us all; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

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extends deepest condolences on the passing of Mary Donnelly; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Marguerite Donnelly, Patricia Hiller, Mary Ann

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Tapia, Elizabeth Masci, and Michael Donnelly.

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LC005982

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