80, died peacefully January 13, 2012 at Brentwood Nursing Home in Warwick, RI. Formerly of Hunts Avenue in Pawtucket, she was the beloved wife of the late Bertrand G. Massé to whom she was married for fifty years. Born March 24, 1931 in Central Falls, Rhode Island, she was the daughter of the late Joseph Lussier and Bernadette Lussier (Duplessie).
As a child she was frequently heard on WFCI-AM radio in Pawtucket on the hit radio program "Buddy and the Gang", singing popular songs of the day. Her considerable vocal talents garnered much praise from her audiences and she was often called upon to sing selections requested by the listeners. Eventually she began her studies in classical music with local teachers as it was discovered that she possessed a glorious soprano voice. She became a well known singer in local churches as cantor and vocalist for weddings and funerals, most notably at Saint Jean the Baptist Church and Saint Cecilia Church, both in Pawtucket, accompanied by her church-musician husband, Bertrand. She was enrolled in the Saint Joseph School of Nursing in Providence before leaving to raise her family.
She is survived by her six children, Claude Massé of Middletown, CT, Nicole Higginbotham (Massé)and her husband Kenneth of Cranston, Paul Massé and his wife Donna of Exeter, Guy Massé of Pawtucket, Pierre Massé and his wife Janet of Warwick, and Renée Massé of Pawtucket, her cherished grandchildren Colin Higginbotham of Franklin, MA, Patrick, Molly and Michael Higginbotham of Cranston, Robert, Michelle and Julie Masse of Exeter, Theresa Masse of Boston and John Masse of Warwick as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The funeral will be held Wednesday at 8:45 am from the Keefe Funeral Home, 5 Higginson Avenue, Lincoln, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Blessed Pope John Paul II, (formerly Saint Cecilia's Church), at the corner of Newport and Central Avenues, Pawtucket, at 10:00 am, followed by burial in Notre Dame Cemetery, Pawtucket. Calling hours are Tuesday from 4:00 to 8:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers kindly make donations to Crossroads Rhode Island, 160 Broad Street,
Providence, RI 02903 or online at www.crossroadsri.org.