Marcia Anne (Galgas) Sunderland, passed away on Tuesday, April 12th, the month before her 87th birthday, and joined her sisters Kay and Bette: The Galgas girls from Bennington, Vermont, are singing together again.

Marcia lived in East Greenwich, RI, with her husband of 64 years, Everett Sunderland, the sailor who lured her from the green mountains to the ocean state. Prior to moving to East Greenwich forty years ago, they lived in Washington Park, where they raised four children: Barbara Sunderland Manousso (John) of Houston, Texas; Gary Sunderland and Bruce Sunderland (Mimi Morimura) of East Greenwich; and Diana Sunderland Prise (Michael) of Kirkland, Washington.

Marcia forfeited a scholarship in voice at the New England Conservatory for a coveted white nursing cap with a single black band from New England Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in Boston, Massachusetts, where she excelled at being a registered nurse. Her patients included the matriarch, Rose Kennedy, and she was chosen by the famed Dr. Frank Lahey, the founder of the Lahey Clinic, as his nurse assistant.

Marcia crossed over the bridge of life after a rapid decline in her health from renal failure. In her final months, she never complained of being bed ridden, reported no pain, and delighted in sharing stories of her nursing career with those who attended to her.

She was predeceased by her parents Felix and Marcia Galgas of Bennington, Vermont; her older sister, Katherine Vallencourt; and younger sister, Bette Coons; and their respective husbands, Kenneth and Morton, and grandson, Roberto Sunderland Coimbra.

She will be fondly remembered by her grandchildren Brian Sunderland, Lyndsay Sunderland, Grant Morimura Sunderland, Ian Prise, Colin Prise, Bradford Morimura Sunderland, and step-granddaughter, Nicole McMahon. Left to celebrate her life are two step-great granddaughters and a step-great great granddaughter, many nieces, nephews, and friends.

A memorial service will be held in THE CRANSTON-MURPHY FUNERAL HOME of WICKFORD, 140 West Main Street, Wickford Village, North Kingstown, RI 02852, at 2:00 PM, on Saturday, April 16, 2011. Immediately following the memorial service, family and friends will be invited to a reception to continue the celebration of Marcia Anne Sunderland.

Click Here To View Condolence Messages

Cranston - Murphy Funeral Home of Wickford
140 West Main Street
North Kingstown, Rhode Island 02852
401-294-4013