March 28, 2024

Rollande Marie (Pariseau) O'Gara

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Rollande Marie (Pariseau) O'Gara 95, of Rumford, passed away on December 23, 2022 surrounded by her loving family. The memory of her beloved husband of over 70 years, William E. O'Gara, who passed away in 2019 and to whom she was Rollie, was a sustaining presence these last three years, as was the love and support of her family and her caretakers and best friends, Delia DaCosta and her husband Joe, and their granddaughter, Lauren DaRosa. Rollande was the daughter of the late Regina (Richards) and Henry Pariseau of Central Falls and the last of ten children - six sisters and three brothers; she was the ninth - to have lived this long. Rollande was the loving mother of four adoring children, Renee O'Gara and her husband David Gilstein; Martin and his wife Michaelle (Bodine) O'Gara; William E., Jr., and his wife Clotilde (Jeronimo) O'Gara; and Monique O'Gara and her husband Stefan Michael Ziewacz. Known to them as Nana, Rollande will be dearly missed by her six loving grandchildren, Ali, Katie (O'Gara) Serra and her husband Travis Serra, Stephanie, William III, Erin (O'Gara) Valadao and her husband Nicholas Valadao, and William M., as well as three great-grandchildren: Luke and Natalia Serra, and Edward Valadao. Her memory will live on as well through many nieces and nephews.

While growing up in Central Falls, Rollande attended Sacred Heart Academy where she became immersed in all things French. In fact, she never lost her love for the French language and sprinkled it into her daily discourse like powdered sugar on puff pastry. She barely knew her mother who died very young but who always remained in her heart. Her father became the hero of her childhood as he took on the responsibilities of raising 10 children. She never spoke of her father but with the utmost reverence. The vignettes of her childhood are prose poems full of Dickensian detail, pathos, endurance, and love. She grew up to be as tough as nails with an indomitable spirit that persisted to the end. She, indeed, did not go gentle into that good night. Despite the hardships of her childhood, Rollande displayed a joie de vivre and generosity to her family and friends unbound. The diaspora of her loved ones extends from coast to coast. And, while she will surely be missed, her memory will never fade.

A proper memorial service will take place at a later date in celebration of her life and spirit.

Online condolences can be left at https://lincolnfuneralhome.org/

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