Bridget Ann (Sugrue) Mohan, 82, of Greenville passed peacefully on Thursday, January 21, 2021. Born in Lower Cromane, County Kerry, Ireland, she was the daughter of the late John Sugrue and Margaret (Healy) Sugrue and the wife of the late Edward J. Mohan.
She emigrated to the US from Ireland in 1964, 3 years after her future husband Ed did the same. They found each other at an Irish wedding in 1967, and from that moment, began a life together that was deeply rooted in family and faith.
A proud and devout Irish Catholic, Bridget was faithfully involved in the St Philip Church community, where she would join parishioners on retreats, Eucharistic adoration, group bible study, and attended daily Mass. Prior to St Philip’s, she was a communicant of St. Pius V Church in Providence for more than 30 years, where she and her beloved husband Ed were married in 1969.
Bridget was retired from Home Loan & Investment bank where she was an assistant branch manager. After retirement, she worked part time at Elmhurst Extended Care for a short time. She had also been a member of the Irish Ceilidhe Club of RI.
Always one for her quick wit and sense of humor, she never took herself too seriously. She loved Irish music and dance, a good bit of the craic, and her piping hot cup of tea.
Bridget is survived by a brother Michael Sugrue of Watford, England, 2 sons, Edward and his wife Darlene of Cranston and John and his wife Christine of North Kingstown, 4 grandchildren, Brad, Brittany, Brendan and Bridget, and 3 great-grandchildren, Louryn, Brayden, and Roone. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late John Sugrue and Sheila Fowler.
Bridget’s Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday at 9:30 am in Saint Philip Church, 622 Putnam Pike, Greenville. Due to COVID restrictions seating will be limited. Face masks and social distancing is required. Private burial will follow. To view the stream of the service, please visit the St. Philip's Church YouTube page.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Continuum Care Hospice, Rhode Island, 1350 Division Rd., Suite 205, West Warwick, RI 02893.
Bridget Ann (Sugrue) Mohan Eulogy
We would like to take a few minutes to talk a little about our mother Bridget. As many of you that knew her well, it was obvious that she was the type of person that always put others ahead of herself. An immigrant to this country, she never took for granted the opportunity she and our Dad had to provide a better life for one another and their sons, while never forgetting and always proud of her Irish heritage.
Her ability to navigate a new life so far from the home she had known was possible only with the love and support of such a wonderful network of family and faith. People like her cousins Kay Roche and Mary Holahan, her Aunts Nellie and Kittie, the Murphys, the Sullivans and then the Boyles, Reillys, Gillerlanes, Deignans, and so many more.
Much like our Dad, she was no stranger to hard work and sacrifice. She worked hard to help provide for her family, but her greatest accomplishment was being a loving and devoted wife and mother. We certainly challenged her many a time, but she was always forgiving and always pushing us to be better.
She never took life or herself too seriously. She loved to “act the cod” and her sense of humor was remarkable. She could even craft a poem for a reunion at the drop of a hat. We have so many memories of family gatherings when she would have everyone laughing with Hubie Deignan and Auntie Tillie. They are all probably having a good laugh together again now, with our Dad just shaking his head.
As an Irish mother of sons, the idea of one daughter-in-law was frightening, let alone 2. So, she did what only she could do and accepted them simply as daughters of her own, and Christine and Darlene loved her back just as hard as she loved them. Thereafter, she affectionately became known to us and her grandchildren as Nan, and this became the most sacred of all roles in her lifetime.
Her strength was truly tested after losing our Dad, but she never faltered. And with that same network of loving family and friends, she was able to start another chapter in her life, one that brought its own challenges and uncertainty. At the age of 62, with a little help from her friends Joe and Irene Richardson, she got her driver’s license and bought her first car. Dad would have been amazed and proud.
She sold the family home in Elmhurst, a place where she and Dad bonded with so many friends within the St Pius community as well as the surrounding neighborhood families that made her feel so welcome.
Once again, she had to pack up and leave home. She moved to Smithfield, closer in proximity but no less daunting a move than that from Ireland. Although seemingly alone, she was not. Being so close to her sister in-law Mary and Tommy Boyle gave her so much comfort.
She joined St. Philip’s and became faithfully involved in this Church community where she met so many wonderful people. And when the condo next door was for sale, she was given another one of God’s gifts when Trish and Helena Eldridge moved in. We saw again how friendship and love would fill her life and we are truly thankful for all they did for our Nan.
Her journey continues now, and we know she is not alone, just as she was never alone in this life. May she Rest in Peace.
– Eddie & John