Obituary for Martha R. Turco (Rider)
Surrounded by her family, Martha R. Turco passed away on August 4, 2022 at the age of 87.
Martha was born in Westerly to Effie Eleanor and Thurston Rider. She grew up in Ashaway and graduated from Westerly High School in 1953. She attended URI, where she played field hockey, basketball, and tennis and majored in chemistry at a time when few women did. She married Joseph F. Turco, Sr., on August 25, 1958, and raised a family of eight children, seven of whom survive her.
Martha had a zest for knowledge and was a voracious reader. She had an eclectic array of interests, including gardening, beekeeping, horse racing, NASCAR, hockey, baseball, knife collecting, firearms, and picaresque novels. At the age of 60, she got an F-150 and her first driver’s license. Martha enjoyed travels to Kentucky and Prince Edward Island. She loved butter and avoided doctors. She was a wonderful cook and baker, a loyal friend, and most of all, the kind of mother who managed to provide children–her own, her neighbors’, and her children’s friends–with care, advice, freedom, and Swamp Yankee common sense. Her door was always
open. She was strong, brave, and irreplaceable.
She is predeceased by her husband; her son John A. Turco; her brother, Thurston “Butch” Rider; and her parents. She is survived by her children, Valerie Turco of Westerly, Joseph Turco, Jr. (Yena) of Oakdale, CT, David Turco of Westerly, Mary Turco (Randy Harrison) of Ashaway, Anne Sharrard (Mark) of Illinois; Andrew Turco (Donna) of Nottingham, NH, and Elizabeth Tetlow (Bruce) of Westerly; her daughter-in-law Michelle Turco of Pawcatuck; her grandchildren, Doug Howard, Clayton Percy, Sarah Lefoley, Adam and Evan Sharrard, Nicolas Turco, Gillian and Brenden Turco, and Abigail Tetlow; five great-grandchildren; and her sister, Shelley Rider of New London.
Friends and family are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial for Martha at 10:00 on the morning of Friday, September 2, 2022, at St. Pius X Church, 44 Elm Street, Westerly. Burial will be private. Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly is in care of the arrangements. For online condolences please visit www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com
Martha was born in Westerly to Effie Eleanor and Thurston Rider. She grew up in Ashaway and graduated from Westerly High School in 1953. She attended URI, where she played field hockey, basketball, and tennis and majored in chemistry at a time when few women did. She married Joseph F. Turco, Sr., on August 25, 1958, and raised a family of eight children, seven of whom survive her.
Martha had a zest for knowledge and was a voracious reader. She had an eclectic array of interests, including gardening, beekeeping, horse racing, NASCAR, hockey, baseball, knife collecting, firearms, and picaresque novels. At the age of 60, she got an F-150 and her first driver’s license. Martha enjoyed travels to Kentucky and Prince Edward Island. She loved butter and avoided doctors. She was a wonderful cook and baker, a loyal friend, and most of all, the kind of mother who managed to provide children–her own, her neighbors’, and her children’s friends–with care, advice, freedom, and Swamp Yankee common sense. Her door was always
open. She was strong, brave, and irreplaceable.
She is predeceased by her husband; her son John A. Turco; her brother, Thurston “Butch” Rider; and her parents. She is survived by her children, Valerie Turco of Westerly, Joseph Turco, Jr. (Yena) of Oakdale, CT, David Turco of Westerly, Mary Turco (Randy Harrison) of Ashaway, Anne Sharrard (Mark) of Illinois; Andrew Turco (Donna) of Nottingham, NH, and Elizabeth Tetlow (Bruce) of Westerly; her daughter-in-law Michelle Turco of Pawcatuck; her grandchildren, Doug Howard, Clayton Percy, Sarah Lefoley, Adam and Evan Sharrard, Nicolas Turco, Gillian and Brenden Turco, and Abigail Tetlow; five great-grandchildren; and her sister, Shelley Rider of New London.
Friends and family are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial for Martha at 10:00 on the morning of Friday, September 2, 2022, at St. Pius X Church, 44 Elm Street, Westerly. Burial will be private. Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly is in care of the arrangements. For online condolences please visit www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com