New Bedford - Leocadia V. "Lou" (Perry) Pittsley, 86, of East Freetown passed away April 24, 2013 at St. Luke's Hospital. She was the widow of Archie L. Pittsley. A devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she loved spending time with her family.
Mrs. Pittsley was born in New Bedford, daughter of the late Antone and Valeria (Secunda) Perry, and resided in East Freetown since 1953. She was a communicant of St. John Neumann Church. She was a graduate of New Bedford High Shcool where she was voted most "Most happy go lucky" and a graduate of Massasoit Community College where she majored in Sociology. A Certified Nurses Aide, she was employed as a counselor by Brockton Multiservice Outpatient Clinic until her retirement.
Mrs. Pittsley and her husband were the owners of Rocky Hill Ranch where they raised and showed championship horses throughout the country. She had a wonderful sense of humor, was very proud of her Polish heritage, loved to write, dance, garden and write poetry, for which she had won awards. She was a 2006 nominee for the Standard-Times Woman of the Year and Ms. Senior Sweetheart of the Massachusetts Senior Pageant.
She was a member and officer in numerous clubs and organizations such as: the St. John Neumann Ladies Guild; Past Senior Vice President of the Freetown Ladies Auxiliary, Post 6643; Chaplin and Past President of the East Freetown Senior's Club where she coordinated many programs such as line dancing class and birthday programs; the East Freetown Grange; Past Chairman of the Heart Fund Campaign of East Freetown; Past President of the Freetown Elementary Parent Teachers Association; a board member of the Freetown Council on Aging; Past Vice President of the Freetown Woman’s Club; the Federation of State Woman’s Club; Past Treasurer of the Ladies Lakeville Auxiliary; the Yankee Appaloosa Horseman’s Association; Our Lady of Perpetual Help Polish community; and a Fresh Air Fund Host. She was an avid advocate for seniors and represented them at many state and local government events.
She loved people and she loved to help people. She did much volunteer work for which she received many awards and certificates such as: volunteer counselor at the Crisis Center of New Bedford and the Alanon Center of New Bedford; the Interfaith Support Group Ministry for Single Adults of the South Coast Area; Communities at Smith Mills Christian Church; the United Way of Fall River; the Jimmy Durante Fund; the Diabetes Association; Past Chairman of the Heart Fund of Freetown; the Alzheimer’s Disease Fund; hostess at the Happy Hearts Club of Berkley; coordinated entertainment to many nursing homes; and coordinated many fundraisers. She also volunteered her time aiding seniors by escorting them to doctor’s appointments, shopping for them and providing counseling.
Survivors include her daughters: Sandra L. Christoun and her husband, Frank, and Cindy L. Preston and her husband, Lawrence; 4 grandchildren: Toby Christoun and his wife, Lindsay, Kelly Christoun and her husband, Sean Moriarty, Jillian Preston and Jenna Preston; 3 great-grandchildren: Sean Moriarty, Braiden Moriarty and Ryan Preston; and several nieces & nephews.
She was mother of the late David Wayne Pittsley.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend:
Visiting hours at the Kirby Funeral Home on Sunday, April 28, 2013, 4:00 - 7:00 P.M.
Funeral from the funeral home on Monday, April 29, 2013 at 8:30 A.M. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. John Neumann Church, Freetown at 9:30 A.M.
Interment in Chace Cemetery, East Freetown.