Obituary for Roberta E. Alessio (Dowbekin)
Roberta E. (Dowbekin) Alessio, 80, passed away on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 with her loving family by her bedside.
Born in South Kingstown, RI, she was the daughter of the late Albert E. and Grace Mabel Dowbekin. She was the wife of Robert G. Alessio for 61 years.
Roberta grew up and was educated in Westerly and was a graduate of Westerly High School Class of 1959. She was a member of the Professional Women’s Association and worked, primarily, as a secretary for several businesses including Attorney Richard Sisco until his death and William T. Sisco, CPA until her retirement.
As a very involved and active wife and mother, she interrupted her professional involvement to raise her two children, Joy and Christopher, until they were school age, when she resumed her outside work part-time. She learned Italian cooking and kept alive all the traditional feast days for her family and friends, including baking seasonal cookies and treats. She made most of her children’s clothing when they were tots. She also applied her skills in crafts and decorations for Christmas and Easter.
Roberta was a devoted Catholic convert and was active locally in the charismatic renewal in the Catholic church.
Besides her beloved husband, she leaves behind her daughter Joy (Alessio) Voisinet and son-in-law John Voisinet and her son Christopher Alessio of Providence; and she leaves the joy of her life, her granddaughter Juliana. Roberta also leaves her sister-in-law Joann Dowbekin. She was predeceased by her parents Albert and Grace, and her brother Albert Dowbekin.
A special thanks goes out to the attentive and caring doctors and nurses of The Westerly Hospital and Beacon Hospice Care.
Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, March 31st from 4-7pm at Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Pius X Church, 44 Elm St., Westerly at 9am on Friday, April 1st. There is no procession from the funeral home to church. Burial will follow at St. Sebastian Cemetery, Cobblestone Lane, Westerly. For online condolences please visit www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com
Born in South Kingstown, RI, she was the daughter of the late Albert E. and Grace Mabel Dowbekin. She was the wife of Robert G. Alessio for 61 years.
Roberta grew up and was educated in Westerly and was a graduate of Westerly High School Class of 1959. She was a member of the Professional Women’s Association and worked, primarily, as a secretary for several businesses including Attorney Richard Sisco until his death and William T. Sisco, CPA until her retirement.
As a very involved and active wife and mother, she interrupted her professional involvement to raise her two children, Joy and Christopher, until they were school age, when she resumed her outside work part-time. She learned Italian cooking and kept alive all the traditional feast days for her family and friends, including baking seasonal cookies and treats. She made most of her children’s clothing when they were tots. She also applied her skills in crafts and decorations for Christmas and Easter.
Roberta was a devoted Catholic convert and was active locally in the charismatic renewal in the Catholic church.
Besides her beloved husband, she leaves behind her daughter Joy (Alessio) Voisinet and son-in-law John Voisinet and her son Christopher Alessio of Providence; and she leaves the joy of her life, her granddaughter Juliana. Roberta also leaves her sister-in-law Joann Dowbekin. She was predeceased by her parents Albert and Grace, and her brother Albert Dowbekin.
A special thanks goes out to the attentive and caring doctors and nurses of The Westerly Hospital and Beacon Hospice Care.
Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, March 31st from 4-7pm at Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Pius X Church, 44 Elm St., Westerly at 9am on Friday, April 1st. There is no procession from the funeral home to church. Burial will follow at St. Sebastian Cemetery, Cobblestone Lane, Westerly. For online condolences please visit www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com