Maria (Arrigo) Lima, died suddenly on December 30th, one week shy of her 91st birthday. She was the widow of Ernest Lima. They had been married for 42 years at the time of his death in 2000.
She was a daughter of the late Joseph and Vincenza (Vingi) Arrigo. She was the oldest of four daughters: Anna J. Merlino, Josephine E. Petronio and the late Virginia R. Bruno. She leaves her daughter, Susan (Lima) Henry and her son-in-law, William J. Henry. She also leaves many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and several great-great nieces and nephews. The family dog, Sienna, will miss her presence too.
Maria answered to many variations of her name. She was also known as Marie, Mary, and to those who knew and loved her most, Auntie Mae. Mae was her nickname given to her by her mother.
Auntie Mae grew up on Federal Hill in Providence. She moved to The Manton Section of Providence at the age of 14. She lived there for 53 years and graduated from Mount Pleasant High School, Class of 1952. She was an active parishioner of Holy Ghost Church and was a member and Past President of their Catholic Women’s League.
Maria had worked at Ocean State News in Lincoln for 42 years before she retired in 1996.
In 2001 she moved in with Sue and Bill in North Providence and lived with them for 23 years. She joined the Salvatore Mancini Senior Center and had many friends there. In 2021, she moved (grudgingly) with them to St. Augustine, Florida, which is where she passed away.
Auntie Mae loved to embroider, solve word search puzzles and watch Hallmark Movies. Because of the proximity to Orlando, she enjoyed several visits to Walt Disney World with Sue and Bill buzzing around in her electric scooter and collecting Disney pins. Her family was her biggest joy and their visits to St. Augustine made her so happy.
Her Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, January 10th at 11am in St. Thomas Church, 65 Fruit Hill Avenue, Providence. Burial will be in the Mausoleum at St. Ann’s Cemetery, Cranston. Visitation will be Thursday, January 9th from 4-7pm in the Anderson-Winfield Home, Rt 44 at Greenville Common, Greenville. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Amos House, 460 Pine Street, Providence, RI 02907
Amos House