Maria L. Rege

Maria L. Rege, cherished mother, sister, daughter, and friend passed on Monday, March 4, in Providence, Rhode Island.A longtime Newport resident, Maria was born on March 19,1966 in Holyoke, Mass. She was the daughter of the late Richard W. and Joan W. Rege of Chicopee, Mass. A graduate of Chicopee High School, Maria attended Springfield College, where she earned both her bachelors and masters degrees.Upon graduation, Maria worked as a Recreation Therapist in Cambridge, MA and Newport before serving as the Director of Grief Support for Memorial Funeral Homes, where she used her great sense of empathy and compassion to assist those suffering from loss. She worked as a student assistance counselor for Child Family Services, and volunteered for their Groovy Girls program, where she empowered young girls awaiting adoption by providing art therapy. Maria was an avid reader, who loved the beauty of the ocean, running at Sachuest Point, exploring at Norman Bird Sanctuary, and time spent teaching adaptive art to special needs students. Marias greatest joy in life, however, was her daughter Orla who filled the past 10 years with laughter and love.In addition to her daughter, left to celebrate Marias memory are her brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces, cousins and in-laws, and many wonderful friends.The family wishes to thank the staff at Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island for providing extraordinary care and compassion to Maria over the years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Maria L. Rege Memorial Fund, PO Box 3486, Newport, RI, 02840.The family will receive friends at Hambly Brick House Funeral Home, 30 Red Cross Ave, Newport, on March 16, from 2:00-4:00pm, with a Celebration of Life to follow at 4:30 in the funeral home. "Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul... " Emily Dickinson Visitation MAR 16. 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM Hambly Funeral;Home 30 Red Cross Avenue Newport, RI, US Service MAR 16. 04:30 PM Hambly Funeral Home 30 Red Cross Ave Newport, RI, US, 02840 info@memorialfuneralhome.com http://www.hamblyfuneralhome.com