Lois A. Rizzini
Lois A. Rizzini
Bristol
unknown - February 3, 2012
Lois A. (Houde) Rizzini, of 16 Harbor View Ave., Bristol, died Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, at St. Elizabeth's Manor, Bristol, surrounded by her loving family.
She was the beloved wife of William H. Rizzini, her husband of 55 years.
Born in Providence in 1932, she was the daughter of the late Francis R. and Emma T. (Hanley) Houde.
She lived in Bristol for the past 16 years, and, prior to that, in Barrington, Cranston and North Providence.
Lois graduated from the former St. Francis Academy High School in 1950 and from the former Roger Williams Hospital School of Nursing in 1953.
She worked as a registered nurse at Roger Williams Hospital, the Providence Visiting Nurses Association, the Cranston Visiting Nurses Association, and for several years at the Cranston ARC, where she was the first full-time staff nurse.
When her husband was president of Roger Williams College, she was awarded an honorary bachelor of science degree in 1989, for her service in opening the president's home "to students, faculty, staff, the citizens of Bristol, and visitors from around the world. She set a standard against which the college will always measure its commitment to the entire community."
Lois was an honorary Rotarian of the Warwick Rotary Club and was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow in 2004. Since 1976, she was a communicant of St. Luke's Church in Barrington, where she was a co-chairwoman with her husband in the campaign to raise money for the renovation of the church. She was a volunteer driver of ECHO in Bristol.
The Rizzini family wishes to thank the staff of the Alzheimer's unit at St. Elizabeth's Manor, Bristol, for their loving and devoted care to Lois for five years.
Besides her husband, she is survived by a daughter, Anne L. Wagner of Smithfield; three sons, twins William F. Rizzini and John M. Rizzini, both of Riverside; and Stephen J. Rizzini of Bristol.
She was the sister of Mary Frances Mann of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; 10 grandchildren, Brian Morse of Tiverton, Erik Morse of Warwick, Michael Morse of Tiverton, Christopher Rizzini, Matthew Rizzini, Danielle Rizzini, Alyssa Rizzini, all of Riverside, Alexander Rizzini and Sarah Rizzini of Bristol, and Samantha Wagner of Foster; and one great-granddaughter, Kiara Morse of Warwick.
Funeral services are from the Sansone Funeral Home, 192 Wood St., Bristol, on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 9 a.m., with a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. in St. Luke's Church, 108 Washington Road, Barrington. Burial will follow in North Burial Ground, Hope Street, Bristol. Visiting hours are 3 to 7 p.m. on Monday.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Elizabeth's Manor, 1 Dawn Hill, Bristol, RI 02809.
For online condolence shared memory book, information, directions go to www.sansonefuneralhome.com.