Rachel Rice Sheridan (b. Nov 3, 1927) died peacefully on July 13 at Brookhaven in Lexington MA after a long illness. Rachel attended Mount Holyoke College and earned a masters degree in education from Columbia University and another in counseling from Northeastern University. She taught school in Dayton OH, Los Angeles CA and Newton MA. Rachel was active at The Second Congregational Church in Newton as a teacher and a Deacon. She also served as President of the West Newton Reading Club. During the Viet Nam War, in addition to her own four children, she became a foster mother for a war-wounded Vietnamese child. Rachel is well known for her warm and outgoing personality and for welcoming many friends, family and neighborhood children to her home. She was a much-loved wife, mother and member of the Newton community.

Rachel was predeceased by her parents Paul and Genevieve Rice and siblings, Horace, Lenore Hale, and Charles. She leaves a husband of 64 years, Thomas Sheridan, retired Professor at MIT, and four children: Paul (Kate FitzGerald) of Charleston WV, Richard (Nancy Perry) of Cardiff CA, David (Cynthia Antonellis) of Wellesley MA, Margie (Keith Boyd) of Wilmette IL, and nine grandchildren (James, Jacob, Nicholas, Nora, Spencer, Charles, Anna, Sam, and Vanessa) and two great granddaughters (McKenzie and Madisyn).

A memorial service is planned at Second Church in Newton on Saturday, September 30, at 10:30 am. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be sent to Doctors without Borders or the charity of your choice.