Deryl Joy Freeman Bissonnette

PROVIDENCE – Deryl Joy (Freeman) Bissonnette, 67, of Richmond, Rhode Island passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer on January 19, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Deryl was born in Columbus, Georgia at Fort Benning Army Hospital to David Freeman and Gail A. (Worthington) Freeman. She was raised in Norton, Massachusetts and graduated from Norton High School in 1975. Deryl was also a graduate of the North Adams State College (cum laude) with a degree in Elementary Education and Teaching, then went on to receive a Master of Library and Information Studies, focusing on cataloging librarianship, at the University of Rhode Island. Committed to supporting students and preserving knowledge for future generations, she worked as an academic librarian at Wheaton College (MA) for 29 years and Rhode Island College, where she retired as a tenured associate professor and Head Metadata and Electronic Resources Librarian.

A dedicated wife, sister, mother, and grandmother (or Ma’ama), Deryl’s family was paramount in her life. She cherished spending time with her grandchildren, loved theater, and taking walks in nature. She will be remembered as an avid reader, a wonderful chef and baker, a skilled croquet player, and an incredibly warm, kind, and loving person.

She is survived by her beloved husband Kim Bissonnette of Richmond, RI; her mother Gail A. (Worthington) Freeman of Norton, MA; her sister Karen Freeman of Norton, MA; her sister Carla Filipe of Norton, MA; her sister Beth Plausse of Norton, MA; her aunt Bette Richmond of Norton, MA; her aunt Debbie Gilleran of FL; her daughter Andrea Falciano of Port St. Lucie, FL and her husband Anthony as well as their children Griffin Barros and Logan Falciano; her son Lee Kenney of Providence, RI; her step-daughter Jocelyn Bissonnette of East Greenwich, RI and her husband Brian Thorn as well as their children Ines and Esme; her step-daughter Lindsy Bissonnette and her fiancé Nicholas Ferla of New York City; and her step-daughter Kara Bissonnette of New York City. Deryl also leaves behind a vast and loving community of cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, and coworkers. She is predeceased by her father, David.

A celebration of life will be held at Avery-Storti Funeral Home in Wakefield, RI on Friday, January 31, 2025, from 10am to 12pm with a service immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, Deryl’s wish is for you to consider a donation to these organizations that were important to her: Planned Parenthood or Doctors Without Borders.