Mary Lou Deciantis

Mary Lou DeCiantis, 59, of What Cheer Rd., passed away Tuesday at home surrounded by the love of her family. To have known Mary Lou meant you were inspired by positivity and strength and reminded to always carry humor, hope and love in your heart. Mary Lou was a uniquely special spirit, and the light she provided in the lives of those who knew her will be dearly missed. Mary Lou grew up in West Warwick, RI, the daughter of Doris Goulet and Romeo DeCiantis, a founder of the DeCiantis Brother’s Dairy. Growing up, she excelled in all scholarly pursuits and brought many smiles to RI families scooping out DeCiantis ice cream for long hours after school. She earned her B.A. degree from Simmons College in 1972 and her Masters degree in Sociology from the University of Rhode Island in 1979. She went on to earn her PhD in Sociology/Urban Studies from Brown University in 1984. Her doctoral dissertation not only excelled to the rigorous academic standards of Brown, but also was testified to the RI legislature and triggered sweeping changes in the state’s mortgage and banking systems. Mary Lou excelled in a number of varied professions, including the Chief Administrator of the Office of HIV/STD programs at the RI Dept of Health, where her visionary dedication provided support to the development of programs that have become models for the prevention and treatment of HIV. While Chief of the Office of School and Worksite Health, she took on the challenge of coordinating the efforts of different state departments to effect lasting change to improve school-based health services for all the children of RI. When asked to take over the RIDOH Office of Oral Health, she didn’t let her total lack of any dentistry training get in the way. She won the respect of RI dentists, tapped into the talents among them, and pushed forth programs to help needy children. When Mary Lou was asked to run the yearly fund-raising campaign, she revolutionized the system with fun and excitement. She developed a model that won the highest honors for the department. After she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and overcoming a near death bout of pneumonia, she decided to pursue her true passion of cooking for people. She opened the What Cheer Gourmet catering services to the culinary delight of RI, CT, NY, and MA. When her health deteriorated and made catering impractical, Mary Lou smiled on and exclaiming “Lets play jewelry,” started her vintage jewelry business. As part of her legacy she leaves behind her loving husband, Robert Lewis, PhD; her daughters, Jennifer Poehlmann and her husband Eric, Vanessa Paniccia and her husband William; sisters, Carol DeCiantis and Joan Jones; grandchildren, Andrew, Ava, Billy and Lena. A celebration of her life will be held this Friday at the Narragansett Town Beach North Clubhouse, 79 Boston Neck Road from 5 to 8PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday at 10:00 AM in Christ the King Church, 180 Old North Rd., Kingston. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery, Peace Dale. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Miriam Hospital to help fund advanced training for the oncology nurses.