Mary Louise Lussier

Born on June 18, 1939, she was the ninth of ten children born to Charles F. Kent and Evelyn E. (Ward) Kent of Newport, Rhode Island.

Mary was a graduate of Rogers High School in Newport. She met her husband; Martin O. Lussier while he was in the Navy stationed at the Newport Naval Base. They married and had three children before receiving a transfer to Brunswick, Maine and eventually to Groton, Connecticut where she spent the next twenty-three years prior to settling in Jacksonville in 1997. Mary found her calling in life working as a Certified Nurse’s Aide in elder care. She was an instinctive nurturer and the position was a perfect fit.

Mary loved to travel and spent six months in Greece after high school. In later life she toured Europe and the Middle East with her husband. She was very proud to have flown on Concorde on her twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

Mary was a gifted gardener and produced spectacular flower and vegetable gardens yearly. She was a fan all things “fun” and could never resist a good joke, an opportunity to laugh or a chance to make someone smile. She always brought the sunshine and a positive attitude wherever she went.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Martin of Jacksonville, FL; son John of Jacksonville, FL; daughter Julie (Gene) Chadwell of Norwich, CT; daughter Jennifer (William) Duncan of Norfolk, VA; grandchildren Jack Lussier of Saint Simons Island, GA, Amy (Matthew) Jodoin of Norwich, CT; Katherine Britting, Thomas Britting, Joshua Duncan, Elyse Duncan, Zachary Duncan and great-grandaughter Erin Britting of Norfolk, VA. Her siblings, Edward (Rita) Kent of Portsmouth, RI, Margaret Mashaw of Middletown, RI and Alan (Dee) Kent of Middletown, RI and sister-in-law(s) Dorothy Kent of Florida, Carol Kent of North Carolina, Arlene McKenna of Portsmouth, RI and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, her siblings/spouses Robert (Estelle) Kent, Jean (Larry) Gawith, Natalie (Harry) Brockish, Shirley (Hank) Smith, Charles Kent, James Kent, brother-in-law Thomas Mashaw and her best friend forever Noreen (Fred) Mello.

The family would like to thank the nurses, aides and support staff at Anthem Lakes Creekside Memory Care for their exemplary care and would especially like to extend our appreciation to her Hospice Nurse, Robin Burns of VITAS Healthcare of Jacksonville for being there at every crucial moment and for her care and compassion when it was needed the most. We cannot thank you enough.

As previously agreed, the family has planned an informal ash scattering in Newport, Rhode Island in July 2019. The exact date will be announced when arrangements are finalized.