Bessie (Freitas) Plouffe

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Bessie (Freitas) Plouffe, 102, died at St. Elizabeth Home on Friday, September 12, 2014, she was surrounded by family and friends. She died peacefully holding the hands of her daughter, Christine, and grandson, Gabriel. She was the wife of the late Eugene A. Plouffe.

Born in New Bedford, she was the daughter of the late Mary Trigueiro and Manuel Freitas. Bessie graduated from Bridgewater State Teachers College in 1934 and Bryant Stratton School of Business in 1936. She worked as a head cashier at Roger Williams Hospital for several years, and she also enjoyed working as a medical office manager to the late Edmund Sayer, M.D. as well. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and volunteered at Planned Parent in her retirement.

She loved gardening, baking, bowling, and had a fierce love of playing poker. She had a terrific poker playing session with her son, godson, and his wife a few months before she died. She loved to read, and she read a book a week until the last year of her life. She was an expert seamstress and knitter. She adored pets of all kinds, and her home was always full of them. She especially enjoyed the pet therapy Hospice provided, and she looked forward to it. She also enjoyed the visits of her daughter's cat, Salem.

She loved dancing, and she met her husband in a dance hall. On their first meeting, she was sure they were to marry. Bessie was all optimistic, "feisty”, persevering, and determined person. She had great organizational skills and was a wonderful money manager. She was a warm, affectionate, and celebratory person. She had a beautiful spirit, which filled whatever space she was in. She was like this from the time she was a little girl until her death when her tired body could no longer contain her beautiful spirit. She loved and treasured her life till days before her death.

Starting at age 82, she had many serious health problems. She always made health decisions to prolong her life. She entered Hospice at 99, graduated from Hospice, and lived three more good years. She appreciated her life at St, Elizabeth Home, She was always grateful for the wonderful care she received, for the Friendships she shared, and for the quality of her life. Most of all she wanted to be remembered for her love of her family and for being kind.

She was the mother of Bruce Lloyd, 75, of Connecticut, Eugene PIouffe, 71, of Warwick, and Christine Plouffe Stinson, 67, of Warwick. She also was the sibling of the late Mary T. Luiz, Laura (Luiz) de Freitas, Isahelle (Luiz) Quadros, Beatrice (Luiz) Lopes, Olivia Luiz, and Gregory Luiz. She is survived by one sister, Leonara Luiz, 93, of New Bedford. She is survived by six grandchildren: Kevin Plouffe, 47, Penney Shaw, 50, Gerrit Schutt, 49, Samantha Lloyd, 46, Fay Rivin, 50, and Gabriel Stinson, 28. She is also survived by nine great-grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are invited to a memorial service Sunday, September 28, at 3:30 p.m. at the Woodridge Congregational Church, UCC, 546 Budlong Road, Cranston, RI. Visiting hours are Saturday, September 27 from 4-7 p.m. at the Thomas & Walter Quinn Funeral Home, 2435 Warwick Avenue, Warwick, RI.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Home and Hospice Care of RI, St. Elizabeth Home of East Greenwich, RI, or Woodridge Congregational Church, UCC, Cranston, RI, Information and condolences, visit TheQuinnFuneralHome.com