Rita F. (Higham) Fredette, 80, a North Kingstown resident for 47 years, passed away on Monday, April 27, 2015 at the South Kingstown Nursing Home. Rita passed away peacefully with her loving husband at her side, after a valiant struggle with Alzheimer's Disease.
Born in Warwick, she was a daughter of the late Everett and Mable (Gillan) Higham. In 1981, Rita had a massive brain hemorrhage while working at the Ladd School in Exeter, RI and was saved from a certain death with an operation performed by the late Dr. Walter Cotter of St. Joseph's Hospital in Providence, RI.
Rita was a wonderful wife, a great mother, an activity-filled grandmother, a huge lover of her Oak Hill Road home flower gardens, an avid reader, and cookie baking master. Stopping at the local coffee shops on the way to the beach with her grand children, collecting seashells together was always a special moment in time.
Rita volunteered for years at the former Joseph's Coat in Wickford, Salvation Army in North Kingstown, and was a long time house cleaning lady to Eleanor Slater. Rita was a long time communicant of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Wickford.
She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Romeo S. Fredette and their six children: Brenda F. (Fredette) Butler of North Kingstown, Donna J. (Fredette) and Michael Ryan of Concord, New Hampshire, Richard A. Fredette and his wife, Lori of North Kingstown, Michelle C. (Fredette) Kibitlewski and her husband, Brian of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Jennifer L. (Fredette) Twining of North Kingstown. She was the mother of the late Gerald E. Fredette. Rita was at her happiest when around her ten grandchildren; Aubrey and Derrick Butler; Matthew and Christopher Ryan; Adam, Erica and Meghan Fredette; Leah Kibitlewski; Iain and Penelope Twining; and five great-grandchildren; Colton, Derrick, Jr., Garrett, Loghan and Mason. Deep sadness from two remaining siblings; her beloved sister Claire (Higham) LaFontaine of East Greenwich and brother Richard of Florida.
A private burial service will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery, North Kingstown, RI on Friday, May 1.
