Emilie Luiza Borda Charitable Fund

Virginia Scott of Spartanburg, South Carolina, one of the only surviving family members of Emilie Luiza Borda, who died in August, 2008, recalls of her first cousin, “‘Emy Lou,’ as we all knew her, was born to Emilie Bell Borda and Wenceslao Borda on August 25, 1925. As a member of a philanthropic family, it was only natural for her to continue that tradition during her lifetime. Two older brothers, Bill and Joseph, died at early ages; Bill in an automobile accident in the early 1940s, and Joe in World War II. Her father died when Emy Lou was a young girl and she became a constant companion to her mother.

Although they lived in New York, Arizona, Florida and Missouri, Rhode Island was always home, and they returned every summer to Narragansett and South County. Emy Lou’s grandfather, Louis F. Bell, built South County Hospital, where Emy Lou was one of the first patients! Having attended Elmhurst Academy in Providence, Emy Lou developed a great love for the church and for the nuns who taught and befriended her.

After her mother re-married, they moved to Arizona, then on to St. Petersburg. Following the deaths of her mother and stepfather, a cousin, Tom Bell, who was always a favorite of Emy Lou, invited her to come to Missouri to live with his family. So, for the last three decades of her life, Emy Lou reveled in the companionship of a large family that she had never known before. She worshipped at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, looked forward to an occasional lunch at McDonald’s and enjoyed listening to Lawrence Welk music. A most loyal friend and fun loving lady, she took great pleasure in seeing her cousins’ children and grandchildren grow up around her.

It pleased us all to know that Emy Lou’s life was one of satisfaction knowing that she had been able to make contributions to many of our favorite charities in Rhode Island through The Rhode Island Foundation. The Fund will be used to help the following organizations: the South County Ambulance and Rescue Corps Fund; South County Hospital; the American Cancer Society, Southeast New England Region; the American Heart Association, RI Chapter; the Arthritis Foundation, Southeast New England Chapter; In-Sight; Meeting Street Center; and Lifespan's RISE clinic and Hasbro TB clinic.

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