Wilhelmina H. “Billie” (McVey) Pistacchio, 85, of Simpson Street, North Providence, died Thursday, April 19, 2018 at Fatima Hospital in North Providence. She was the widow of Rudolph N. “Rudy” Pistacchio.
Born in Smithfield, she was the daughter of the late Francis and Wilhelmina (McCaughey) McVey.
After High School, she attended Salve Regina College in Newport, as well as Boston University. She went to work at a prominent auto dealership in Providence, and City Finance in Providence. She also worked in accounting for the Avenir Company in Greenville, RI before her retirement.
She was married to Rudolph N. Pistacchio and in addition to raising her family, she became involved with the Ladies Auxiliary Group at the Smithfield Elks Lodge, where he was a founding member. Her support and involvement was instrumental in his rise to national lodge officer, and together they worked on many of the lodges’ charitable efforts. In addition, she was involved with the Boy Scouts of America, and served as a Cub Scout Den mother for many years, as her boys grew through the program.
She was an avid reader and enjoyed crosswords and other puzzles, keeping her mind sharp. Of late, she was a member of the St. Thomas Prayer Shawl Ministry, hand knitting prayer shawls for those of the parish community who were in need. During her time of need, she received her own prayer shawl from the ministry which comforted her greatly.
Growing up, she was very close to her three cousins, Sally (Moore) Dwyer, of South Kingston, RI, Hellen (Kerrins) Walhausen of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and Maureen (McCaughey) O’Brien of Cranston, RI.
She is survived by her children: Michael Pistacchio of Smithfield, David Pistacchio and his partner Dr. Daniel Geller of New York and Marylou Chiasson and her Fiancé, Jim Kott of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, as well as her grandchildren, Kara and Mark Chiasson and her brother, Francis E. McVey of Wiscasset, Maine. She was the mother of the late John Pistacchio, who died on April 13, 2018.
Funeral Monday at 9am from the Anderson-Winfield Funeral Home, Route 44 at Greenville Common, Greenville. A Mass of Christian Burial at 10am in St. Thomas Church, 65 Fruit Hill Avenue, Providence. Burial will follow at Mt. St. Mary Cemetery, Pawtucket. Visitation Sunday from 4-7 pm.