Marguerite Ann Santopietro, 78, of Baldwin Orchard Drive, Cranston, passed away peacefully in her home on Wednesday, February 22. She was the wife of the late Capt. Thomas V. Santopietro, Jr. They had been married for 56 years.
Born in Providence, the daughter of the late Anthony Amoriggi Sr. and Margaret (Lamoriello) Amoriggi. She lived in Cranston for the last 2 years and previously resided in Greenville, RI and Boca Raton, FL.
Marguerite had been the head teacher and director at The Brown Play School in Rumford RI where she retired after many years. She started her career as a teacher with the Head Start program when it was first established in 1965 and also taught at Moses Brown School in Providence for many years. Marguerite was a strong advocate for children’s rights. She was extremely passionate about the importance of early education, encouraging children to be creative, and intrinsically motivated self thinkers. She was the first early educator in RI to implement the Reggio Emilia philosophy of child-centered play and learning.
Marguerite and her husband Tom were also partners in business; working together to build, renovate, design and decorate homes in both RI and FL.
Marguerite spent her free time cooking and baking for her friends and family. She loved entertaining and will always be remembered for her famous Christmas Eve celebrations.
She is survived by her son, Dr. John Santopietro, his wife Kathleen, and their three sons Max, Griffin and Beckett; her daughter Kristin Pugliese, her husband Gianmarco, and their daughter Anabella; and her youngest daughter Leah Santopietro and her two daughters Adeline and Viviana. Marguerite lived for her children and her grandchildren. She will be deeply missed by her family and all that knew her.
Visitation to which relatives and friends are invited will be held from 4-7pm Monday, February 27th in the Anderson-Winfield Funeral Home, Route 44 at Greenville Common, Greenville. Burial will be private.
Friends and family are invited to attend a brunch in her honor at 11am on Tuesday, February 28th at Luigi’s Restaurant, 1357 Hartford Ave, Johnston, RI.
In lieu of flowers, family asks that donations be made in her name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital