Candace M. Ricci Mendes

Candace Marie (Ricci) Mendes, 40, of North Providence passed away on Friday, August 9, 2013 at the Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center in Providence after a brief illness. Born in Providence and the beloved wife of Robert F. Mendes for more than twelve years, Candace was the daughter of Ronald A. and Donna M. (Manocchia) Ricci of North Providence and the loving mother of Matthew and Andrew.

A special education department chair at Bain Middle School in Cranston for the past two years, Candace previously taught sixth grade at the Calcutt Middle School in Central Falls for eleven years. She was a 1990 graduate of St. Mary's Academy Bay View and a 1994 graduate of Rhode Island College. She earned her Master's Degree at Providence College in 2001. Candace filled her home and the hearts of her family with much love. She cherished her many friendships. She enjoyed cooking and had worked at Luigi's in Johnston for many years in her youth. A communicant of St. Augustine's Parish in Providence, she offered invaluable service to many of her sons' youth activities for the past ten years.

Visitation will be held Monday, 4-8 p.m. funeral Tuesday at 9 a.m. from the PONTARELLI-MARINO Home 971 Branch Avenue, Providence followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Augustine Church, 639 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Providence. Burial will follow in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Candace's memory to the St. Augustine Church Poor Box (church mailing address is 20 Old Road, Providence, RI 02908).