Victoria B. Hammond

Pawtucket – Victoria (Vicki) Barbara (Saback) Hammond, 91, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully at home on Monday, November 6th, 2023. Born in Pawtucket, she was the daughter of Syrian immigrants, the late Joseph and Emily (Ayick) Saback who both came through Ellis Island. Victoria grew up in Pawtucket with her mother, siblings, and late grandmother, Affife (Waian) Ayick. She graduated in 1951 from Pawtucket East High School and was a longtime devoted member of St. Mary Antiochian Church, Pawtucket. In her earlier years, she was an integral worker for her father in her family’s business, Saback’s Variety Store and her brother’s restaurant, The Hi-Fi Diner, both on Mineral Spring Avenue in Pawtucket. She later worked for the American Heart association for a number of years before eventually becoming a senior clerk typist for the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. Victoria had a passion for writing poetry and was a member and past president of the Blackstone Valley Writer’s Guild for many years. She had an incredibly beautiful voice and cherished singing everywhere, especially in her church’s choir where she often featured as a soloist. She found great happiness in shopping and bargain hunting, cake decorating, spinning slot machines at Foxwoods of Connecticut, or Twin Rivers of Lincoln, and preparing Arabic food with her daughter or playing cards or games with her grandsons. Her truest happiness was brought about by spending time with her family – both immediate and extended. Victoria may be remembered as a true daughter of Darlington – she lived her whole life there and could tell you where everything used to be. Although a homebody, she did enjoy traveling on occasion, her favorite places were California and Las Vegas which she would visit with her sisters or brother. Vicki was a member of the Greatest Generation and enjoyed an extraordinary life which spanned the Great Depression and World War II and continued through the worldwide Covid pandemic and beyond. Hers was a life well lived. She was an incredible single mother and is survived by her beloved daughter, Sharon A. Hammond and her life partner, Shane Dowie, of Pawtucket; three adoring grandchildren, Davon, Kinnan, and Kyden Dowie; a loving sister, Loris Pimental of Seekonk, MA; her beloved Schipperke Husky, Bella; three avian pets, Huey, Dewey, and Louisa, and several nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Agnes Saback, Josephine Kasiulewicz, Gabriel Saback, and Virginia Trahan. Visiting hours will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 10th preceding her funeral at 12:00 p.m. in WILLIAM W. TRIPP Funeral Home, 1008 Newport Ave., Pawtucket, followed by interment at Walnut Hill Cemetery, Pawtucket. Online condolences are welcome at TRIPPFUNERALHOME.com

Victoria B. Hammond

November 6, 2023