BERTINI, LOIS D., May 2, 1939 – September 20, 2025 of Pawtucket, RI died peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday, September 20, 2025. A retired RN and thought of by her family as “the queen of volunteering” she was a resident of Pawtucket, RI for over sixty years and of Monument Beach, MA for over 30 years. She was a loving wife and mother, dedicated to her family and well known to many as kind and generous.
The daughter of Willard Higgins and Ruth (Bischoff) Higgins, she was born on May 2, 1939. Lois is preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Richard Bertini MD, her parents, and her sister Carole (Higgins) Scott. She is survived by her children: Lori Rolfe (Steven), Jena McNulty (Michael) and Richard Bertini Jr. (Kimberly), her grandchildren: Heather Daly (Matthew) and Eric Pinault ( Julia) from Lori, Michael McNulty, Jr. and Jonathan McNulty (Sarah) from Jena, Jacqueline Loffredo (Michael) from Richard, and ten great grandchildren. Lois is also survived by her nephews John Croslin and Gary Scott.
Educated in the Warwick Public Schools, she was very active in most school affairs. Lois went on to graduate with the Inez Clark Lord Scholarship planning for future work in psychiatric nursing and recognized as “most outstanding in leadership and scholarship” from RIH School of Nursing.She left the nursing field to raise her family and was active in multiple community projects and activities. She also went on to receive an additional degree in Social & Health Services from Roger Williams University.
She was an active member of the Pawtucket Congregational Church UCC for more than 40 years and served in the choir, on the Board of Deacons, Missions, as Conference Delegate, and on the Board of Governors. She served as a delegate to the state conference of the UCC Peace committee and General Synod. She was also an appointed representative to the National Board for World Ministry. Lois was a patron of the RI-UCC Haiti Task Force from its early years, with which she traveled to aid in building a medical clinic and school in Port-au-Prince. She also served as delegate to the US-USSR Bridges for Peace program through which, along with her husband, was able to deliver surplus medical supplies and equipment for victims of the Chernobyl disaster.
Through most of her adult life she was involved as a volunteer. Serving on the, amongst other things; Board of Directors and as a founding member of the Children’s Museum of RI, Board of Directors for “Pawtucket Early Childhood Learning Center”, Board of Directors and instructor for the Red Cross of RI, Board of Managers for the Weeden Manor for the Elderly, and on the Advisory Committee for Social & Health Services at Roger Williams University. Lois also had a way with artistic endeavors and had a real talent for making art, often in the expression of interior design. The spaces she touched were warm and beautiful.
Of all her interests, family and friends were 1st in her heart. She was consistently present to support and participate in the lives of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will be profoundly missed by all.
A memorial service followed by collation will be held at Swan Point Cemetery on Friday, September 26th at 12:00 Noon. Scattering of ashes will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations will be welcomed at Doctors without Borders, 333 7th Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10001 or Hope Health Hospice, 1085 N. Main Street Providence, RI 02904.
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