March 28, 2024

Esther Ann (Bouchard) Tracy

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It is with great sadness that the family of Esther Ann (Bouchard) Tracy announces her passing on November 19th, 2022 at the age of 97.


Esther Ann (Bouchard) Tracy was predeceased by her husband Richard whom she had been married to for 72 years. “Nan” as she was often known as, leaves behind four loving children: Robert and his wife Kathy of Birmingham, AL, Marianne Tracy of Providence, Ted and his wife Mego from Palo Alto, CA, and Kevin and his wife Molly from Rumford. She will also be remembered by her loving grandchildren: Mathew, Daniel, Virginia, Kaitlyn, Brendan, Kevin, Katherine, Ryan, and Brian as well as great-grandchild Robert. Nan was also predeceased by her brothers Edward and Robert Bouchard.


A native of East Providence and the daughter of Joseph Edward and Esther (Shea) Bouchard, Nan attended St. Francis Xavier Academy as a member of the class of ’42 and went on to attend Pembroke (Brown) University where she earned an AB degree in Sociology in 1946. Upon graduation, Nan was a social worker for the City of East Providence for a short time before moving to upstate NY after WWII and then to South Carolina while Dick served in the Korean War. After the world settled from its conflicts, Nan and Dick moved back to New England to focus on starting a family and supporting their numerous activities.

Nan had many passions including learning to play bridge and golf at the Wannamoisett Country Club which became a focal point for the Tracy family over the next fifty years. In addition to helping run the Junior Golf Program in the late ‘70s, Nan (and Dick) could be found every Friday evening dining in the Wilson room with other members, sometimes leading to song and dance festivities. Nan was an excellent dancer and she loved to demonstrate that skill whenever she had a chance. Nan often recalled that “we had such a great time” as these close friends would get together for a night out at the WCC on a regular basis.


As the children grew up and moved off to college, Nan’s focus shifted to the Brown University campus. As each of the four Tracy kids attended Brown, it seemed natural for Nan to join the Alumni Relations team at Brown in 1980. With her strong work ethic and organizational skills, Nan became an Assistant Director of Class Reunions during a ten-year career before retiring in 1990. Nan was so respected by Alums and staff alike at Brown that an award was named on her behalf. The Association of Class Leaders (ACL) established the Nan Tracy’46 Award to recognize a class leader who has exhibited distinguished service to his/her class, the ACL, or the University, and a recipient has received this prestigious award every year ever since its inception.


After her retirement, Nan focused her time on supporting her grandchildren, visiting relatives, traveling across the globe and preparing incredible dishes that were always enjoyed by friends and family. Ironically, her extraordinary turkey stuffing was something that all the family enjoyed and looked forward to at Thanksgiving. Additionally, Nan was proud of her homemade apple and pecan pies which were always a family favorite during the holidays.


Although no longer with us, Nan’s faith and spiritual support of the family was constant and unwavering. As a very active member of the St. Margaret’s parish of Rumford, her Roman Catholic faith provided guidance to all of us. In her later years, she and Dick would enjoy daily mass and every Monday you would find her verifying the weekly offering from the parish faithful. It will be Nan’s concern and support for the community we will all miss the most. There were few like her in this regard.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Meals on Wheels, 70 Bath Street, Providence, RI 02908, or St. Margaret Parish School, 42 Bishop Avenue, Rumford, RI 02916.


A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Margaret’s Church,1098 Pawtucket Avenue, Rumford, RI 02916 on Monday, November 28th at 10:00 am. Calling hours are respectfully omitted.

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