I will never forget meeting the Dutra family for the first time in Barrington, R.I. They were our new next door neighbors. It was exciting for my family because the ages of their children matched our family of five kids. My parents quickly became friends with Joanne and Joe and I remember hearing them all laugh, and laugh a lot through out the years.

Mrs. Dutra was a friend to us all. She made me feel welcome and safe and always had a big hug, HUGE smile and a happy laugh for me whenever I showed up at her home. She was one of the only people who was able to get away with calling me by my nickname and I loved her even the more for it.

When I became a Brownie, and then a Girl Scout, she was always there to cheer me on or even help me sew a patch on my sash. She was the mom we all went to when we felt we needed some extra TLC.

After I had grown up, with two children of my own my mother confessed to me that she and Joanne would call each other up and ask on occasion, "want to switch kids for the day?" It was all in good fun and it made me smile thinking that they too could grow exasperated with us kids. 

It is with great sadness that we learn about Joanne's passing but we know that she is in good hands. My only regret is that I missed telling her how important she was to me as a child. I know how important she was to my parents and I trust she is up in heaven having a good laugh with my mom and Joe and that she knows she left the world a better place for having loved so many and having so many love her.