Career
Menard first was elected to the Woonsocket School Committee in 1981. She was later elected to the Woonsocket City Council and became its first female president. She was urged into politics by Douglas Brown, a former member of the School Committee. Menard was elected as mayor of Woonsocket in 1995, beating opponent Vincent Ward. She served until 2009, making her the longest serving mayor in the city's history. She is one of only four female mayors ever elected in Rhode Island.Personal life and death
On April 14, 2009, the same year she left office, Menard's daughter Carrie Pilavin died aged 31. On September 17, 2022, Menard's older brother Robert Miller died, aged 81. She was listed as alive in his obituary. Menard had a long-term relationship with Daniel Grabowski. On September 20, 2022, both of their bodies were found in Menard's home. Menard is survived by her sister Marilyn and grandchildren Jacob, Nathan, Madison and Colin. Autopsy reports revealed that Menard had died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and Grabowski of type-2 diabetes.References
Year of birth missing 1940s births 20th-century mayors of places in Rhode Island 2022 deaths Women mayors of places in the United States People from Woonsocket, Rhode Island School board members in Rhode Island Deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Mayors of places in Rhode Island {{RhodeIsland-mayor-stub