Mary Louise (Mary Lou) Cavicchi, 78, of Kingston, Massachusetts, passed away on Sunday, February 6th, 2011, at Jordan Hospital in Plymouth after a brief illness surrounded by family.
Mary Lou spent her entire childhood and adult life in Kingston. She was born on October 24th, 1932 in Newton, Massachusetts, the daughter of Eugene and Eva (Beairsto) Brookings. She graduated from Kingston High School in 1950, and completed a two-year program at the Chandler Business School learning bookkeeping and secretarial proficiencies. She remained life-long friends with several of her high school acquaintances. Mary Lou is survived by her husband, Alphonso (Kiki) J. Cavicchi, Jr., to whom she was happily married for sixty years. This milestone recently occurred on January 20th. They made their home on Nelson Street where they raised three children during the years. In later life, they remained in Kingston relocating to the Conifer Green mobile home complex off South Street.
While at home caring for her growing family, Alphonso (Kiki) was employed at Kingston Hardware Company in the center of Kingston for many years, but in 1969, Mary Lou and Kiki purchased the hardware store and dry goods company and were the proprietors / operators until 1987. At that time, they remained the owners of the building complex renting to other businesses until selling the property in 2007. They were also the owners of the Wave’s Edge Apartment Motel in Tisbury, Massachusetts (Martha’s Vineyard), from 1979 until 2003. Mary Lou very much enjoyed supporting her husband in these business ventures throughout the years using her bookkeeping skills to support the financial management of these enterprises.
Travel and reading were Mary Lou’s passions. She and her husband enjoyed seeing much of the world in their retirement years including many countries in Europe and two visits to Australia. They were also fond of being in Alaska where one of her daughters and her family reside. She was fond of providing experiences to her children and grandchildren. She believed the memories of travel and personal encounters were the most important elements of life, and her mission was to provide numerous opportunities to family members to enjoy memorable times. She loved gliders and hot air balloon rides. She also enjoyed cruises and resort-style, casino activities. Mary Lou read constantly her entire life completing as many as five or six books per week. She was a regular visitor at the Kingston Public Library. She was always optimistic, always happy and always ready for the next big adventure.
Mary Lou was the center and the hub of the family. As well as her husband, Mary Lou is also survived by her sister, Barbara (Brookings) McAlpine, of Carver, Massachusetts. Other family members include her stepfather, Lawrence Ellis of Middleborough, Massachusetts, and her aunts; Jean Maarshalk of Kingston, Massachusetts, and Norma Donovan of Waterville, Maine. Her surviving children are her son, Leslie S. Cavicchi, and his wife, Kristine, of Ashland, Massachusetts, a daughter, Wanda L. Powers, and her husband, Richard (Kevin), of Middleborough, Massachusetts, and daughter, Brenda G. Gumminger, and her husband, Robert (Butch), of Wasilla, Alaska. Her grandchildren are Douglas Cushing of Boston, Massachusetts, Captain Jarrod Cavicchi and his wife Emily of Winterport, Maine, Jennifer Powers and Nicholas Powers of Middleborough, Massachusetts, Nathan Gumminger and Dylan Gumminger of Wasilla, Alaska, and Ryan Stanley of Ashland, Massachusetts. Her great-grandchildren are Matthew Cavicchi of Kingston, Massachusetts, and Jayden Powers of Middleborough, Massachusetts.
Memorial services will be held at a later date. Donations may be made in Mary Lou’s name and memory to the Kingston Public Library, 6 Green Street, Kingston, MA 02364.