Harriet J. Rocco, 98, of Greenville, passed away peacefully at Village at Waterman Lake on January 4, 2024. She was the wife of the late Albert F. Rocco, MD.
Harriet grew up in Oklahoma City, moving to Rhode Island after meeting the love of her life who was attending University of Oklahoma Medical School. She was a longtime Greenville resident, very interested in local politics and was proud of her participation with the League of Women Voters.
She lovingly raised 4 children, and enjoyed a privileged long life filled with happy memories. Her greatest sadness was the death of her eldest son, Dr. Allen F. Rocco, in 2013.
There were many winters spent in Estero, Florida where she had wonderful neighbors and friends. She shared many cross country adventures with her husband in their motorhome. Harriet’s true passion was traveling. Highlights she expressed were white water rafting in the Grand Canyon, passing through Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, standing in front of the Taj Mahal, flying in a small plane over Victoria Falls and riding on rollercoasters wherever she ran across one. She and her husband had visited six continents and all 50 U.S. states - and after his passing she insisted on a solo visit to South Africa, a river cruise from Paris to Normandy, and annual tandem skydives from age 85-90. The sentiment most offered by friends and relatives when hearing of her passing is “What a character!”
Harriet is survived by her three children, Christina Caldwell of Mapleville, RI, Constance Rocco of Chepachet, RI, Stephen Rocco and his spouse Tara of Greenville, RI, as well as 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her son, and her husband.
A private family burial was held on January 8, 2024 at Highland Memorial Park Cemetery in Johnston, RI.
Please consider donations to Audubon Society of Rhode Island, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration.
Audubon Society of Rhode Island
St Jude Children’s Research Hospital
The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration