Mary (Mihopoulos) Lavoie, 62, known for her warmth and her ability to make friends everywhere she went, passed away Sunday December 8, 2024, at home. She was hilarious, kind, musically gifted, generous, and as her parents would say, the best of a poor lot. We will all miss her terribly.
Born in Providence, she was a daughter of the late William L. and Dorothy M. (Hooley) Mihopoulos. Mary was the best mom to Danielle and Jamie Lavoie; and a loving wife to Mark Lavoie. The youngest of five siblings, Mary shared a special bond with her sisters Jo Ann Howard (Joe), Betty Howard (Dave), and Susan Root (Alan), and her brother Louis Mihopoulos (Jana). She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews, who filled her life with joy and laughter. Among her closest friends was her best friend, April Leonard (Dave), who was like family to her.
Mary grew up in Warwick, Rhode Island and attended both Vets and Toll Gate High School. She received her Associate’s Degree from The Community College of Rhode Island. Over her lifetime, Mary had plenty of jobs and plenty of career advice, mostly from her time at Rocky Point but her twenty plus years as an administrator at Brown was what she was most proud of.
Mary was a dedicated member of the Greek Orthodox parish, The Church of the Annunciation. She taught Sunday school for many years, helped with the Christmas pageant and enjoyed volunteering with her sisters and friends at numerous events over the years. The church also afforded her the opportunity to embrace her Greek Heritage and even learn Greek with her daughters. We will miss sitting with her in her pew and know that this community will hold us as we grieve her, so we thank them for what they have done and still do for our family.
The role that music played in her life cannot be understated. Mary enjoyed learning many instruments but loved her guitar most of all. She performed in living rooms, at cookouts, around tables at holidays, at dive bars and most notably at her husband’s store, Third Rock Emporium with her bandmates, The Third Rock and Rollers. She knew the words to more songs than anyone else we know, and there wasn’t one she couldn’t learn by ear alone. If you had the privilege of attending a concert with her you would have likely seen her on the dance floor or belting out the words alongside you. There was no one better to party with and we hope that you will feel her presence when music is around.
We want to thank everyone who made her final days as comfortable as they could be. She was surrounded every single day by friends and family who brought food, sang songs, reminisced, held hands, and checked on one another. Mary was a social butterfly, and we know she was grateful to have so many people in her life keep her and us company.
Lastly, we cannot recommend and thank Continuum Hospice enough. Joanna and Lee went above and beyond our expectations and cared for our mom like she was their own family, and we will be forever thankful to them.
A Visitation will be held Sunday, December 15, 2024, from 4-7pm in the Thomas & Walter Quinn Funeral Home, 2435 Warwick Ave., Warwick. Her funeral will be held Monday, December 16, 2024, at 8:30am from the Thomas & Walter Quinn Funeral Home, 2435 Warwick Ave., Warwick, with a service to follow at 10am in the Church of the Annunciation, 175 Oaklawn Ave., Cranston. She will be laid to rest in the family lot in North Burial Ground, Providence.
In lieu of flowers, donations to a charity of your choice in Mary’s name will be greatly appreciated and if you’re out listening to music…throw a little extra to the band.
