Teresa Owusu, 54
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Teresa Owusu, 54, of Pawtucket, R.I., died April 3, 2013, after a long illness. A native of North Adams, she had made her home in Pawtucket for the past 30 years.
Born in 1958, the daughter of the late John and Mary Rice Shields, she graduated from Drury High School in 1976. She obtained a bachelor of science degree in social work from Providence (R.I.) College and a master of science degree from the University of Rhode Island.
Mrs. Owusu devoted her professional career to helping the most troubled and disadvantaged of society in the urban areas of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. She first directed programs dealing with drug addiction and rehabilitation. In the 1990s, she was director of a Catholic Charities home in Newton, devoted to providing shelter, guidance and job training to battered women and their children. She most recently directed a similar program at the Women's Center of Providence.
She was an active member of Providence Presbyterian Church, where she was a deacon for several years. In keeping with her care of the downtrodden and outcast, she was also a lover of animals and cared for many rescued pets. Her kind heart and eternally optimistic faith in the goodness of mankind will be greatly missed, said her family, friends and colleagues. She enjoyed spending time with her family and especially loved visiting the Maine seacoast, where they vacationed for many years.
She leaves her beloved husband, Nicholas Owusu; a brother, J. Michael Shields and his wife, Linda, of Orchid Beach, Fla.; two sisters, Mary Lou Selsby and her husband, Harvey, of Kennebunkport, Maine, and Sandra Shields and her fiance, David Horan, of Westfield; an aunt, Ellen Tornabene of Pownal, Vt., and several nieces and nephews.
FUNERAL NOTICE — Graveside funeral services for Mrs. Owusu will be held at Southview Cemetery in North Adams at noon on Friday, April 5. A memorial service will be held at Providence Presbyterian Church, 500 Hope St., Providence, R.I., at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 6.
Contributions in her memory may be made to Providence Presbyterian Church, Providence, RI 02906. Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals is in charge of local arrangements.