Alda Lessie Peservich

PESERVICH, ALDA LESSIE, of North Kingstown, RI, passed away suddenly at home on July 11, 2008.

Born on July 2, 1920, in Hartford, Connecticut, she grew up in Brooklyn, New York, spending summers with her mothers family in Connecticut. As a young woman, she enjoyed learning, especially studying history, geography, and languages, and traveling NYC by roller skates with her group of friends to after-school student activities at the Brooklyn Public Library, museums, and concert halls. World affairs were a major interest, as was her Lithuanian heritage. An avid reader and armchair traveler, Alda reveled in conversation and was the family historian. She liked to say that she learned to ride a bike at age 11, to drive a car at 21, and to ride a horse at 31.

The beloved wife of the late Edward J. Peservich, she lived in Middletown, CT, before moving to Warwick in 1968. After her husbands death, Alda was co-owner of the family business, the former Oaklawn Nurseries, in that city. She was the daughter of the late Eleanor A. (Mazotas) and Carl A. Lessie.

Alda was the devoted mother of Gregory Peservich; Maria Rollin; and Alison Peservich, with whom she lived, all of North Kingstown.

At Laurel Brook Farm, her home in Middletown, CT, Alda was an avid bird watcher, hiker, nature lover, and volunteer. She was active in girl scouting, cub scouting, and the 4-H. She served for many years as President of the Mothers Circle of St. Johns Church and of the PTA. During World War II, she worked as Executive Secretary to the mayor of Middletown, CT, and rolled bandages for the war effort. Alda was proud of her familys record of military service. In Warwick, she continued her interests in horticulture and education as a business woman and as a library volunteer in the local elementary school. In later years, Alda enjoyed traveling and visiting with family and friends. She was a member of the North Kingstown Senior Center.

She is survived by her children and four grandchildren: Alex and Benjamin Rollin, and Caroline and Olivia Huber, and also by her nephew, Jonathan Peservich, and nieces, Frances Cripps and Jennifer Munroe.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, July 25th at the RI Veterans Cemetery, Exeter, RI, at 1PM where Alda will be buried with her husband Edward. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to the Office of Advancement, Audubon Society of Rhode Island, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI 02917 or online at www.asri.org. For on line expressions of sympathy please visit, boyleandsonfuneralhome.com