Scholarship created after well-known Tiverton area community member dies suddenly

The local community is mourning the sudden loss of a child and arts advocate.

According to those who knew her, Kelly Duda died in her sleep on Wednesday, leaving others to want to honor the memory of a woman who would do anything for anyone.

A GoFundMe fundraiser created to fund a scholarship in her name, touched on what Duda meant to the community.

“Kelly was a fierce advocate for children. She held a deep and abiding faith in the positive impacts of the arts, and she used her own creativity and artistic skill to help support local arts programs. Although she was a busy mother of two boys, Kelly was committed not only to her family, but to their friends, classmates, neighbors, and the local arts community. Kelly was happiest when she was helping others. She was the props master/designer for CORE Youth Theater, worked with the Bristol Child Opportunity Zone, taught a variety of arts enrichment classes to K-8 students, she volunteered at school dances, color runs, and at cross country and track and field meets. Kelly was a calming, steady presence during anxious rehearsals and performances. She connected with kids easily and enthusiastically. She cured pre-show jitters and backstage cold feet. She encouraged, she supported, she nurtured, she nudged. She offered her time and talents to programs that enriched the lives of our children. Tiverton has lost a great friend and a champion of the local arts community.”

In addition to her children, Duda leaves behind a husband and other friends and family.

Services have yet to be announced.