2024 -- S 2260

========

LC004591

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

____________

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE GRACE

FRANCES KLINGER

     

     Introduced By: Senators E Morgan, Gu, DiPalma, Zurier, F. Lombardi, LaMountain,
Quezada, Sosnowski, Tikoian, and Picard

     Date Introduced: February 08, 2024

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

1

     WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness that this Senate has learned of the passing of the

2

Honorable Grace Frances Klinger. She was born in Queens, New York, to the late Thomas and

3

Catherine Hartigan, and was the beloved wife of Frederick Klinger for fifty-two years; and

4

     WHEREAS, The Honorable Grace Frances Klinger was a successful business woman, a

5

respected and dedicated public servant, and a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and aunt; and

6

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Klinger was a hard-working professional who owned and operated

7

Yester-Year Antiques for more than forty years. She worked tirelessly every day to provide for

8

her family and loved ones; and

9

     WHEREAS, Grace Klinger was a woman of many talents who was also a Certified

10

Master Gardener. A dedicated public servant with abiding integrity, she served as the Chairperson

11

of the Charlestown Conservation Commission for thirteen years, and was the former President of

12

the Federated Garden Clubs of Coral Springs, Florida, Brookfield, Connecticut, and Westerly,

13

Rhode Island; and

14

     WHEREAS, Most recently, Mrs. Klinger had been a well-respected member of the

15

Charlestown Town Council. As a member, she played a key role in ensuring that the beautiful

16

twenty-seven acre Patricia Sprague Forest Preserve property would become a town-owned and

17

operated open space property. She also strove tirelessly to maintain the rural charm and character

18

of Charlestown, and strongly supported the development of cost-efficient and appropriate housing

19

options within Charlestown; and

 

1

     WHEREAS, In addition to her husband, Mrs. Klinger leaves behind her daughter,

2

Suzanne Viens and her husband, Andrew, and her grandchildren, Riley, Reagan and Rowan. She

3

also leaves behind her nephews, Brian, Dennis, Thomas, William, Kevin, and a niece, Maureen.

4

She was predeceased by her sisters, Maureen Hartigan, Anne Hartigan and Catherine McNicholl;

5

and

6

     WHEREAS, Everyone who knew Grace Klinger widely admired her and enjoyed

7

working with her. Perhaps Charlestown Council President Deborah Carney described her best

8

saying that "She was a wonderful lady, very dedicated to the Town of Charlestown," "and added

9

that "She touched many, many lives through all of her work with the various organizations she

10

was involved with. She was a good friend to so many people, she was always there when you

11

needed her. You could always count on her for anything. She will be sorely missed"; now,

12

therefore be it

13

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby expresses its

14

condolences on the passing of the Honorable Grace Frances Klinger; and be it further

15

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

16

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Frederick Klinger and Suzanne Viens.

========

LC004591

========

 

LC004591 - Page 2 of 2