Rhoda Malley Obituary

MALLEY, Rhoda Rhoda D. Burgess Malley, 89, formerly of Enfield and Old Saybrook, CT and Vero Beach, FL, completed a remarkable life on Sunday, January 21, 2007 in Charleston, SC. She was born in Thompsonville, CT. Following her mother's death, Rhoda at the age of 12 took over running a household and raising two younger brothers. Rhoda married her childhood friend, William J. "Bill" Malley in 1941 and together they raised four children. While Rhoda's formal education ended in 10th grade, the truth is she never stopped learning, and worked tirelessly to encourage her children on their own varied academic paths. To this end, she worked a variety of jobs to help fund her children's education, including retail sales at G. Fox, working in school cafeterias in Enfield and Old Saybrook, and operating puzzle-making machinery at Springbok's Enfield plant. A descendant of a Quebec shipmaster, Rhoda's abiding love of the sea drew he to the coast, first to Old Saybrook and then, after Bill's retirement to Vero Beach. Rhoda is survived by her four children: Mary Ellen Malley and Victor Lazcano of San Mateo, CA; Stephen and Christine Malley of Charleston, SC; Richard Malley and Kyle Conard of Simsbury, CT; Ross and Kathleen Malley of Chesapeake, VA; seven grandchildren; three great- grandchildren; and a brother, Ernest Burgess of Suffield, CT. She was predeceased by her husband, her grandson, Kevin, her daughter-in-law Nancy, and her brother Raymond Burgess. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to Hospice of Charleston, Inc., 3870 Leeds Ave., Suite 101, North Charleston, SC 29406. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced by the JAMES A. MCALISTER FUNERAL HOME, 843 766-1365. Visit our guestbook at www.charleston.net/deaths.