Sirena Alyse Rice, age 39, passed away unexpectantly, August 30th, 2026.

Born on July 9, 1987, Sirena grew up in Watertown, Connecticut, where she excelled as a gifted soccer player, earning a scholarship for her skills on the field, and later brought that same competitive spirit to a local Frisbee team, where she was affectionately known by teammates as “Sticky Rice.”

Sirena was a graduate of Watertown High and went on to graduate from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. It was there that she met the love of her life, and together, they began to build a beautiful life.

Sirena was fiercely loyal, witty, charming, and had an energy that was contagious. She had a genuine warmth that made people feel comfortable, and young people in particular seemed to sense it, gravitating toward her like she was a safe harbor. She was also incredibly creative and artistic. She loved sharing it with the world.

Everything Sirena did, she did with immense passion, always pouring 100% of her heart and soul into her endeavors. She took great pride in her work and possessed a rare gift for building deep, meaningful relationships wherever she went.

Her professional life was defined by her desire to connect and uplift: she thrived while creating memorable experiences at the University Club and she later dedicated herself to making a profound difference in the lives of students within the Central Falls School District.

Above all, Sirena was defined by her capacity to love. No one loved harder than she did, and everyone fortunate enough to have been touched by her life knew and felt that love completely.

She is survived by her father, William E Rice, III, her sister Chelsea (Jason) Smith, her brother Damian (Shirley) Ellis, nephew Damian (Heather) Ellis, nieces Aurelia, Alyse, Mia, Vayda and Lilie, several aunts and uncles and a huge family of cousins, a host of deeply devoted family members, colleagues, students, teammates, and friends whose lives are forever brightened by her memory. She is preceded in death by her fiancé Ryan Doyle, mother Bonnie Rice and both her maternal grandparents Harold Ellis and Oneita Barnett and paternal grandparents William E Rice, Jr and Margery Rice, along with her aunt Marcia Hathaway and uncle Allen Rice.

Calling hours will be held at Lyons Funeral Home, 46 High Street, Thomaston, CT on Saturday October 17th from 9-11am.
Committal Service will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 56 Hinman Rd, Watertown, CT