Shirley J. Dellaventura

SHIRELY JEAN DELLAVENTURA (MULHEARN) 70, of Valparaiso IN, formerly of East Greenwich and Scituate, RI passed away on Friday March 8, 2019 with her children and grandchildren close to her. Shirley was the oldest daughter to the late Vincent and Gloria (Maddalena) Mulhearn.

Shirley grew up in East Greenwich and graduated from the Rhode Island School of Nursing in 1969 as an RN. She spent the next 29 years working for Rhode Island Hospital as a nurse on the Intensive Care Unit and then in the Endocrine Department as a research nurse. She also worked as a nurse for Hospice Care of Rhode Island for over 10 years. She went back to school and graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Roger Williams University in 1999. She dedicated her life to helping others.

Shirley was a woman of amazing strength with a devotion to family and friends. She rarely missed an opportunity to support her grandchildren at ball fields and performance venues all over the U.S., or catching up with a friend over the phone or out to lunch. She also enjoyed listening to Elvis Presley and knitting blankets, scarfs, baby sweaters and scrunchies for all the girls.

Shirley is survived by her son Richard and his wife Elisa of Valparaiso, IN and her daughter Lisa and husband Stephen DeCiantis of Rolesville, NC. She also leaves her much loved grandchildren Amanda, Daniel and Gabriella DellaVentura along with Abigail and Zachary DeCiantis. She is also survived by her sister Cynthia Flynn (Mulhearn) of Concord, NH, nieces and nephews, her many cousins and her lifelong friends especially Lillian Calise Czech, Diane Sullivan and Mary Santilli.

Funeral Tuesday March 19th at 9:00 am from the Hill Funeral Home, 822 Main Street, East Greenwich with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 65 Third Street, East Greenwich. Burial will be at St Patrick Cemetery, East Greenwich. Calling hours will be Monday March 18th from 4-7 pm. In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to HopeHealth Hospice 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904.