Edith L. Severance

Tiverton, R.I. - Edith L. Severance, 83 of Tucker Avenue, Tiverton, died at home on Friday, July 30, 2010.She was the former wife of the late Joseph R. Vital of Swansea, and also the late Joseph Souza of Tiverton.Edith was born in Alliance, Ohio on December 27, 1926, a daughter of the late Eugene and Edith Lindsay Severance.Edith left Durfee High School in her senior year, during the war to work at the Torpedo Station in Newport, but later obtained her GED. She worked in the business office at St. Annes Hospital in Fall River for many years and then worked as a rural mail carrier for the Town of Tiverton until she retired.Ms. Severance has lived in Tiverton at the Tucker Avenue address for more than 50 years. She enjoyed the spectacular sunsets as well as her view of the Sakonnett River. She loved spending time at home with her family and her dogs. Edith was a long-time volunteer at the Rhode Island Veterans Home in Bristol. She was an avid dog lover and supported animal rights organizations as well as a multitude of other charities. Edith was a member of the neighborhood association opposing the new Sakonnett River Bridge location. She was a member of the Amicable Congregational Church in Tiverton. Edith was known by her family and friends as Edie, Dede, Mom, Ma, Grammy, Gram, Grahamcracker, and by her great grandchildren - as- Edith the Great! She was an avid reader and loved to dance. She also enjoyed roller skating and dancing at the old Lincoln Park. Edith loved to travel and especially enjoyed visiting her son Joe and his family in California and going to Disneyworld with her grandchildren. She enjoyed the theatre -especially seeing her granddaughter, Jen Nahas Morin perform on stage. She is survived by her daughter Linda Vital Nahas of Swansea, Sharon Vital Marchand of Somerset, Gary Vital and his wife Paula of Tiverton, Mary Beth Souza Kendrick and her husband Curtis of Yonkers, New York, her son Joseph E. Souza and his wife Hattie of Woodland, California, her brother Eugene Severance of Mesa, Arizona, eleven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her sister, Imogene Murr of California.A memorial gathering will be held Tuesday, August 3, 2010, from 5 - 8pm in the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth, R.I. A private burial service will be in the Pocasset Hill Cemetery in Tiverton, R.I. at a later date.Memorial donations in Ediths memory may be made to Forever Paws Animal Shelter, 300 Lynwood Street, Fall River, MA 02721 or to the Rhode Island Veterans Chapel Fund, 480 Metacom Avenue, Bristol, RI 02809.