Joan Marilyn Lisi

Joan Marilyn (Laboissonniere) Lisi, 87 of South Kingstown "Oh, my dear little librarian. You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you've collected nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering." The Music Man A life filled with love and joy. Joan spent her life surrounded by family, friends, art and literature, food, travel, and the Lord God. She found happiness in lifes simple pleasures but was up for any adventure with all her loved ones at a moments notice: whether trying a new restaurant, taking a peaceful walk in the woods, braving the snow to see the opera at the Met in New York, or riding east through Europe on the Orient Express. Joan was born in Providence and grew up in Smithfield when it was still rural, and when cows could be seen grazing outside her grade school windows. there, she formed early friendships that would last a lifetime, more than 80 years. The war was still raging when she graduated Classical High School Cum Laude and began college at Pembroke, now Brown University. She felt called to nursing, and transferred to URIs nursing program, where she took internships at Roger Williams Hospital, Butler Hospital, and Yale University. She spent time as a pediatric nurse, but it was the excitement of flying that led her to become a flight attendant for United Airlines where she flew routes between New York and Chicago. This was a time when flying was refined, and civil: flight attendants wore beautiful uniforms and served meals to passengers on fine china. It was amid this exciting life that her beloved Henry Lisi, a passenger, spotted her and fell in love. Henry never stopped with letters, poems, sketches, and calls, and they formed a romance that would last a lifetime and beyond. She and Henry married and they settled in Sharon, PA where they raised four children in their mid-century modern home on Knobwood Road. The house was forever alive with the energy and creativity of the whole family. It was during this time that Henry and Joan discovered the sand and the ocean of Matunuck, RI. Moonstone beach was untouched then, with expansive beach and dunes, and Joan and Henry purchased a plot of oceanfront land where they would build the familys beloved beach house. Every year they would pack four kids, clothes, food, the cat, dog, and even squirrel into their station wagon and journey from Sharon to Moonstone. Summers there were pure bliss. In 1977 Henry and Joan moved to Rhode Island full time. She began working for Scallop Shell Nursing Home and went on to complete her masters in Gerontology. In her later years, Joan never ceased in her appetite for culture, reading, and learning. She loved books, politics, cooking new recipes, and taking courses like French and classical piano. She traveled the world to Italy and France, with her children and friends, and loved the city of light, Paris. Above all Joan loved spending time with four children, her step son and daughter in law; her four grandchildren, her great-granddaughter and the rest of her family as well as her rescue dog Abbey. She was an active member of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension throughout her life singing in the choir and serving on the vestry to steward the church. She passed away at peace and content, at home, surrounded by the ones she loved. Her family mourns her loss but celebrates her life and the countless memories. Her whole life she prayed for peace and tolerance in the world and believed in civility and dignity for all people. She was loving, kind, and generous to all she encountered beyond belief. She is survived by four children, Nancy J. Lisi-Asprinio and her husband Thomas, Christopher Lisi, Mary Ann Lisi, and Gregory Lisi and his wife Laura; a step-son, Henry A. Lisi and his wife Gail; four grandchildren, Michael T. Mort, Amelia A. Lisi, Oliva J. Lisi, Vanessa E. Lisi and a great-granddaughter Isabella R. Lisi. She was predeceased by a step-daughter Sally A. Carlson. A funeral service will be held Saturday, May 26, at 1pm at the Church of the Ascension, 370 Main Street, Wakefield. Visiting hours are at the Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia Street, Friday from 5-7 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be to the Church of the Ascension.