At this time of year, the classic film "It's A Wonderful Life," starring Jimmy Stewart, is often shown on television.

That title would have been appropriate for a movie of the life of Dot Quigley, who passed away Friday at the age of 94.

She enjoyed life, and made life more enjoyable for everyone who knew her.

Dot was the matriarch of the "first family" of Rhode Island golf. Her oldest son, Paul, is a three-time State Amateur champion. Her middle child, Dana, has been one of the top players on the Champions tour since 1997. And her grandson, Brett, was the USGA Junior champion and has gone on to play on the PGA Tour.

Most weekend afternoons, "Ma," as her children affectionately called her, could be found watching the television in her home in Barrington, switching back and forth between the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour, hoping to see Dana and Brett. And, if the Red Sox were on, she'd be watching them, too.

"I don't miss a game," she told me one day five years ago, when I was visiting with her for a Mother's Day column I was writing. "This is the year they're going to win."

It turned out be a year later, but "Ma" Quigley was thrilled she had lived long enough to see her beloved Sox win the World Series.

The day Dana won his first Champions Tour event was the day that Dot's husband of 55 years, Wally, died.

Dot had been told that Saturday that Wally wasn't likely to live through the next day. He died before Dana went out to play his final round on Sunday, but "Ma" decided not to tell her son about his father's passing until after the tournament.

Dot watched the tournament at the house of her daughter, Donna, the youngest of her three children.

"We called Angie (Dana's wife) that morning," Dot said. "She knew, but Dana didn't. She followed Dana during that final round wearing sunglasses, because she didn't want him to see her crying.

"I'll never forget it when Dana won in a playoff. His father was with him that day."

It was Dot who was with Paul the day he played his first round of golf. And, as Dot said: "Whatever Paul did, Dana did."

Dot's refrigerator always was covered with newspaper clippings and magazine advertisements featuring her sons and grandsons.

"Everybody who comes in loves looking at them," she said.