Deborah R. (Doyle) Branch, 74, of Greenville, loving wife of Melvin Branch passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, March 28, 2021. Deb was born and raised in Pawtucket. She was the daughter of the late Edward Doyle and Claire Doyle (McCarthy). She was predeceased by her two sisters, Barbara Doyle Venticinque and Kathleen Laporte Doyle.
Deb and her husband Mel shared 54 years together, enjoying a lifetime of memories while they raised their two children, loving one another through the good times and supporting one another through the challenging ones. They were by one another’s side through it all and when it mattered most, particularly over the past several years when she experienced some health issues, she could not have asked for a better, more patient, caring, and loving caretaker than her husband. Mel spent every day trying to make it a better one for his wife, and he did. You made her proud dad.
Deb was a caretaker and those who were fortunate enough to know her and love her know that her greatest strength was her unwavering, unconditional love and dedication to her family. She was the proud mother of Wayne K. Branch of Greenville and Michelle L. Branch of Cranston, her daughter-in-law, Lynda Aul, and the two joys of her life, her grandsons, Collin Aul-Branch and Shane Aul-Branch. Her “Darlin Collin” and her “Main Shane” called her Mammy and that is how she became known to all for the past twelve years. She was the best Mammy her grandsons could ask for and Collin and Shane were so very lucky to have known her and have been loved by her. They truly were her everything and they will always carry her love with them.
Deb also leaves behind a very loving extended family including her nephew, Vinny Venticinque, and her nieces, the late Kerri Venticinque, Donna Goodhart, Annamarie Kohler, Shannon McLaughlin, and Tara McLaughlin. She was also loved by her extended Branch family who knew her as a sweet, kind, beautiful, compassionate, warm, and loving sister-in-law and Auntie.
Deb graduated from Pawtucket West High School with honors in 1964. She was an alumni of the University of Rhode Island, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1983. She was inducted into Phi Alpha Theta, an honor society for exceptional students of history, and Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s most prestigious honor society known for recognizing academic excellence in liberal arts and sciences. She was the strongest and smartest woman we had the pleasure of calling wife and mom. Deb earned her college degree while working full-time, raising her family, and caring for her grandfather, “Pop” whom she loved very much. This was, without question, one of her proudest accomplishments.
After graduating Deb discovered one of her deepest passions, working with and caring for young children who were victims of abuse and neglect. This was evident in the dedication and care she provided while working as a Child Care Worker for St. Mary’s Home for Children for twenty-years before retiring in 2010. Deb was committed to providing the children entrusted to her care a better life, a safer life, and a happier life. She accomplished this through the same unconditional love and support she provided her own children.
One of Deb’s favorite hobbies was reading. She loved staying up late at night, sitting on the couch reading her many books, especially books about JFK and the Kennedy’s. She also loved the ocean and enjoyed going to the beach and putting her feet in the sand. She shared many of her happiest moments with her family, visiting Galilee, eating seafood and smelling the fresh ocean air. This is where we will remember her. Deb’s favorite saying was, “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” You took our breath away mom in the way that you lived your life. We love you and we will miss you every day.
In keeping with her wishes, Deb was honored in a private memorial service by her husband, two children, daughter-in-law, and two grandsons.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Children’s Advocacy Center, Day One, Providence, RI.