Mary Rokicki

Monday, October 4, 2010

Mary R. (Medeiros) Rokicki passed away Friday, July 2, 2010 at West View Health Care Center in East Warwick, R.I.

Born on Oct. 4, 1915 in New Bedford, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Antone and Mary (Lima) Medeiros.

On June 4, 1934 she married Walter Rokicki; he preceded her in death in 1971.

She was an active member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, where she served in various ministries and taught religious education. She returned to New England in May 2009 after having lived in Indiana for many years.

In New Bedford she was employed at Cornell Dubilier, where she was a shop steward and a tireless worker for the rights of immigrant workers. After moving to Indiana, she ran a child care center from her home and was a foster mother to several children.

She is survived by her daughter, Sister Joan Rokicki, R.S.M. of Providence, R.I.; daughter-in-law Phyllis of Greencastle; and grandchildren Gretl Plessinger of Tallahassee, Fla. and Ryan Rokicki of Newburgh.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Walter, son Michael, sister Mercedes and brother John.

A memorial mass will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Paul's Ladies Guild or the Rokicki Foundation through the Putnam County Community Foundation or the Sisters of Mercy, 15 Highland View Road, Cumberland, RI 02864-1124.