- Date Of Birth: October 15, 1925
- Date Of Death: May 30, 2016
- State: Rhode Island
Olga Marie Duguid Clarke, 90, passed away from this life on Monday, May 30, 2016 in the comfort of her home, surrounded by her children, grandchildren and loved ones. She was born on October 15, 1925 in Newark, New Jersey. Olga was the only daughter and second child of Olga W. Astwood Duguid of Bermuda and William L. Duguid of Barbados.
She was a resident of Providence, RI for over 25 years.
Our mom was a warm and caring individual that touched the hearts and lives of many that she met. She enjoyed all things artistic, such as music, doing needlepoint and crocheting. She loved to hear and tell a good joke (even some of the more risqué ones). She loved her children and family and always had time to listen and talk with them and share her love. She showed a quiet strength through many trials and tribulations in her (and their) lives, but she persevered with a smile and kind encouraging words to try and guide, without being judgmental. We will surely miss our mother.
Travelling was a passion and the family joke was if you asked her if she wanted to go somewhere her bag was already packed. She travelled with her Ebenezer family on church excursions and was a member of “The Getaways” travel club years ago, cruising and travelling to places near and far. She had already started making plans to go to Alaska in the spring of 2017. Safe journey now mother to a better place.
Olga was educated through the New York Public School system and held various jobs throughout her lifetime. She retired twice from the Providence Public School Department: First from the position of Special Education Teacher Assistant and then as a Cafeteria Assistant from Sackett Street school.
Being a member in good standing of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Providence RI for 20 plus years, our mom enjoyed her worshiping and fellowship with her church and church family. Having many close friendships there and always encouraging her children to attend. She also belonged and attended the St. Martin De Porres Senior Center, enjoying her time spent there, laughing with friends, playing cards, crocheting and going on day trips. She was a standing member of the Lts. Armstrong-Gladding Auxiliary Unit #69, of the American Legion, Providence, RI.
Olga was a former member of Martha Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, New Orleans, Louisiana, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rites of Freemasonry. While a member of this organization, she helped to establish the George Long Chapter #116, O.E.S of Providence RI and has been honored with her name being attached to a scholarship fund given by the chapter. The Clarke Long O’Bear Scholarship has been in existence for 37 years and has bestowed as many scholarships to RI high school seniors to assist them in their pursuits of higher learning.
Besides her immediate family, she leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family and friends to mourn her passing, to cherish and celebrate her life which she lived fully. These include but are not limited to her older brother William (Sonny) and wife Lena of Columbia, Md., in-laws, Betty Duguid of Providence, RI and Alex and Dorothy Groves of Washington, NJ. She was preceded in death by her parents, her younger brother Joseph and son-in-law Amos D. Scott, Jr.
She was the mother to 7 children, Karen, Bruce, Olga (Beth), Sidney, Victor, Bonnie, and Holly daughters-in-law Bethany, Elizabeth and Carmen and sons-in-law Mack and Terrance, 18 grandchildren Troy, A. David, Evans, Nicholas, Alyssa, Eric, Andrew, Kristen, Victor, Neal, Nicole, DJuan, Precious, Derrick, Tyrone, Tyrell, Deanya, Sydney, 27 great-grandchildren Shante, Shannen, Stephanie, Tylen, Tiana, Josh, Evans Jr., Laila, Olivia, Zavien, Zakhai, Ahonor, Xylah, Arali, Lucille, Iysis, Anealia, Destinae, Calvin, Derrick Jr., Daylon, Zion, Dache, Drue, Damien, London, Jovhan, 3 great-great-grandchildren Nadia, Mia and Serenity.
We leave you with a few of our mother’s favorite sayings and passages…
“Let not your heart be troubled” St. John 14:1
“I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the Faith” 2nd Timothy 4:7
