Alice Gazda passed away on September 10, 2017 at St. Clare Home Newport, RI. She was born in Central Falls, but spent most of her life in Pawtucket and Wakefield. She was the daughter of the late Albert and Maria Orzechowski. She is predeceased by her husbands, Emilion Gazda and Charles Fogarty.
Alice was the loving mother of Mary Gazda, Charles Fogarty, and the late Lois Fogarty. She was the sister of Ida Ambrosio, Jennie Barry, Gertrude Sullivan, Helen Wyman and John Orzechowski. She is survived by five grandchildren, Johnna Van Iwarden and Johnny, Justin, Catherine, and Lauren Fogarty and by her great-grandchildren, Jenner and Jake Van Iwarden, Hazel McElfresh, Ryan Fogarty and Terrance Manning.
Family always came first in Alice’s life. She left school at an early age to help support her family. She worked at Seekonk Lace Mill, Barton’s Dress Shoppe and Rhode Island Textile. Later she became a lunch lady in South Kingstown, once saving a student’s life using the Heimlich Maneuver. She raised her children and several grandchildren. Ma was an example of strength and resiliency for her entire family and for all who knew her.
A Mass of Christian burial will take place at Sacred Heart Church 820 Providence St. West Warwick, RI at 10:00 AM on Saturday, September 30, 2017.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.