Edith Fitz Hemenway

Born December 23, 1926, Edith was the youngest of five children born to prominent Boston doctor Reginald Fitz and his wife, Phoebe. When WWII ended, Edith married Augustus L. Hemenway of Milton, Massachusetts. The couple moved to San Francisco, where newly ordained Father Hemenway had his first parish. Edith, who loved music and was already an accomplished pianist, played the organ in church while mothering her growing family. Her large family was a hugely important part of her life.

In 1959 the family moved to England where again Edith played the organ in her husband's church, and while traveling the country, was often permitted to play upon a magnificent organ in an empty cathedral, an experience that delighted her.

In the early 60's the family moved back to America and settled in Providence, where Edith coached a choir of enthusiastic Brown University students in her husband's South Providence church, and also began playing chamber music. As her children began to grow up and away, Edith spent long hours composing her own music. She took up studies at the New England Conservatory of Music, receiving a master’s degree in vocal accompaniment, then earned a second degree in musical composition from Brown University. During this time, she wrote four operas for children, which were performed in schools throughout New England, and also developed a love for the art song. While living briefly in Savannah Georgia, Edith befriended clarinetist Nancy Braithwaite, and composed several works for her. Edith's song-cycles and chamber works were premiered by Braithwaite in The Netherlands in 2018. To Paradise For Onions, a CD of songs and chamber music, was released in 2019.

While music was an ever present essential in Edith's life, she loved her family and enjoyed traveling with them, visiting friends and relatives all over the world. Reading was another pleasure, and poetry, too, and Edie invariably had several books on her table. Summers were spent in Vermont with children, dogs, and refreshing long walks.

Edith was the last of her generation in the family. She was predeceased by her husband, her brothers Reginald and William Fitz and her sisters Phoebe Wallace and Jean Buffum. She is survived by her eight children, Nora, Wendy, Augustus Jr., Michael, Peter, Sarah, Edward, and Samuel, as well as 13 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

A memorial service, with a reception following, will be held for family and friends at The Church of the Redeemer, 655 Hope Street in Providence on January 27 at 11:00 AM.