Dolores Carol (Coutinho) Arruda, 85, passed away on October 3, 2024, in Greenville, Rhode Island. She was previously a resident of Myrtle Beach, SC. Born on May 4, 1939, Dolores dedicated her life to the care and well-being of others through her professional and personal endeavors.
Dolores graduated from Holy Family High School and furthered her education at Union College for Nursing and Rhode Island College, shaping a career that would impact many. She was the Head Emergency Room Nurse at Cranston General Hospital in Cranston, Rhode Island. Her commitment to helping others extended beyond the hospital walls, as she assisted the Red Cross during the 9/11 tragedy in NYC and volunteered during a plane crash incident in Newport, Rhode Island.
Her passion for the ocean and nature was profound. Dolores spent several summers working on a lobster boat. She was a Nurse Counselor for a Juvenile Recovery Program, sailing on tall ships from port to port in the U.S. Her adventurous spirit led her to whitewater rafting in Maine and hiking New England Trails. When not sailing on the Ocean, she would ride through the Midwest on Wagon Trails as part of the Vision Quest Program, embodying her lifelong passion to enjoy and fully experience all the world has to offer.
Dolores is survived by her brother, Dennis Coutinho, and life partner, Scott, of New York; daughters, Christine Arruda and her husband, Ron Fricker of Virginia, Donna Arruda of Virginia, and Nadine Pope and her husband, Dave Pope of Rhode Island. Her son Paul Arruda and Mary-ellen Arruda from New Hampshire. She was a proud grandmother to Alicia Bianco of Connecticut, Tara Arruda of Rhode Island Josh Arruda, Noah Arruda, and Zachary Arruda, all of New Hampshire. She was preceded in death by her sister, Darlene Ann Williams.
The family will celebrate life privately to honor Dolores's vivid and impactful life. Her compassion, adventure, and dedication legacy will resonate with everyone who knew her.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Red Cross in Honor of Dolores Arruda.
American Red Cross