Evelyn V. Leach

Evelyn V. (Veresko) Leach, age 84, passed away peacefully at home in East Greenwich, surrounded by her loving family on April 3, 2018.  Born February 27, 1934 to Joseph and Anna (Rudzis) Veresko, she was the last surviving of 11 children. Her Polish name was Wladya, translated as Walteretta after her Uncle Walter. She now joins her beloved husband, Dr. James B. Leach, Jr. who passed on March 4 ^th of this year. They were married at St. Adalbert’s in Providence on November 11, 1955.

Evelyn was a 1951 graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School and earned her nursing degree from Roger Williams Hospital School of Nursing in 1955.  As a registered nurse, working the night shift at Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York, she raised five young children and helped her husband to complete medical school and his residency; later earning her B.A. in Sociology from the University of Rhode Island in 1977.

Evelyn was always very involved in the community and devoted much of her life to the organizations she cared about. Starting out as President of the Greenwich Bay Junior Women’s Club, she went on to found and lead many other clubs and associations over the years. She was the President of the Veterans Memorial Auditorium Preservation Association for nearly 15 years and was instrumental in restoring the Veterans Auditorium to the beautiful condition we see today, as well as ensuring that the empty Masonic Temple Building was saved and eventually transformed into today’s Renaissance Hotel. In addition to sitting on the boards of the RI Philharmonic and Civic Chorale for many years, Evelyn also co-founded her investment club, “The Stockinettes” and her beloved book group. An early leader of The Great Books Clubs, she was invited to speak at local elementary schools to share the works and biographies of famous artists. Evelyn was a Master Gardener and loved the opera, theatre, music, and art. While she worked as a Real Estate Broker for many years, her true passion was her unending dedication to her husband, children, 13 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Evelyn, affectionately called “Sam” by her husband and “Yaya” by her grandchildren, was the one who taught us to live, laugh, and love.  A true matriarch, she orchestrated the famous annual “Leachfest” beginning in 1987.  A most generous, caring and patient mother, she had a zest for life evident in her contagious laugh and devoted love of music and the arts.  Seemingly always acting as a buffer between five raucous children (born only six years apart) and potential trouble, she kept us together insisting we have a good laugh after every supper, and to continue the message of love learned each Sunday in church.

She is survived by her sister-in-law, Joan Forbes, of Franklin, MA, and her loving children, Karen and Roberto Rodriguez of Tampa, Florida, Stephanie Corrente of East Greenwich, Kevin and Catherine Leach of Fairfax, VA, James and Elizabeth Leach of Smithfield, and Kathryn and Andrew Viveiros, also of Smithfield. “Yaya” was the cherished grandmother of Daniel Rodriguez, Christina (Rodriguez) Klein, Evan Rodriguez, Matthew Corrente, Michaela (Corrente) de Groot, Celia Corrente, Rebecca Leach, Kevin James Leach, Abigail Leach, Sarah Leach, Patricia Leach, Emma Viveiros, and Evelyn Grace Viveiros. She was the cherished great grandmother of Elam, Luisa, and Simon Rodriguez, and Casey James Corrente.

Visitation will be held Thursday, April 5 ^th from 5-7 pm at Hill Funeral Home, 822 Main St., East Greenwich. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, April 6 ^th at 11 am at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 65 Third St., East Greenwich. Burial will follow at St. Ann’s Cemetery, 73 Church St., Cranston.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the St. Adalbert’s Polish-American Scholarship fund, The RI Philharmonic Orchestra, The RI Civic Chorale, Trinity Repertory Company, or the Festival Ballet of Providence. For online condolences please visit www.hillfuneralhome.com.