Beverly Ann Rigney

Beverly A. Rigney, 88, of Fort Myers, FL died in the arms of Jesus on September 24, 2023. Beverly was born on November 12, 1934 in Woonsocket Rhode Island, the daughter of the late Daniel Nicholson and Viola (Leduc) (Nicholson) Peters, and the step-daughter of the late Ralph Peters. Beverly was a graduate of the Sweeney Secretarial School, and the Felt & Tarrant Comptometer Service, both in Providence RI. She worked at Industrial National Bank in Providence, RI as a secretary in the Trust Department. In later years, she served as Head Teller at a branch office of Industrial National Bank in Pascoag, RI. Beverly retired in 1996 from the University of Rhode Island, where she was the Executive Assistant to the Chair of the English Department. She raised her family in Pascoag RI, although she loved spending time at the ocean, and visited the seaside in RI’s South County whenever she could. One of Beverly's favorite beach time memories was driving "my four girls" when they were young in her lemon meringue-colored 1977 Chrysler Cordoba, from Pascoag to George's Beach in Galilee on Point Judith RI. There, they would spend the entire day, enjoying "clam cakes and chowda' ", while watching the commercial fishing fleet boats and the Block Island Ferry sail along the breakwater into the harbor. An avid naturist, Beverly had a lifelong love of nature, wildlife and gardening. She was a member of the Audubon Society of RI, the Wilderness Society, and she worked in conjunction with Cornell University for the Department of Ornithology on recording the migratory patterns of coastal birds. Beverly was particularly fond of bluebirds. Beverly had a great love of popular music from such varied artists as Ray Charles, Barbra Streisand, Janis Joplin, Arlo Guthrie, John Raitt and Mantovani. She also enjoyed readings from some of her favorite authors and poets, including Henry David Thoreau, Robert Frost, and Ernest “Papa” Hemingway. One of her favorite lines was from Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken” … “I shall be telling this with a sigh, Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood and I -- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” She is survived by her four daughters, Denise (and Russ) Castello of Fort Myers FL, Michelle Daignault of Tavernier FL, Susanne Lavallee (and Andrea Austin) of Canterbury CT, and Lisa Lavallee (and Bill DeSantis) of Cary NC, grandsons Derek & Joshua Daignault of RI, and 3 great grandchildren Shannon, Ashley and Thomas Daignault. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Daniel Nicholson, Jr., and her husband Albert Rigney. A private family service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home and Crematory, Family Owned and Operated since 1978.

Beverly Ann Rigney

November 12, 1934 - September 24, 2023