Lillian Ann DelPapa

Lillian Ann DelPapa, RN, EdD. Of Lincoln, and formerly of North Providence and Little Rock , Arkansas, 93, passed away on March 6, 2022 surrounded by her loving family. 

Lillian was born in Pawtucket, the daughter of the late William and Victoria (Boggioni) DelPapa. She was the sister of the late Diana DelPapa  Nicastro and William DelPapa Jr.

Dr. DelPapa was a graduate of East Senior High School, Rhode island Hospital School of Nursing, Boston University School of Nursing with a Baccalaureate and earned her Doctorate Degree in Education from Teachers College at Columbia University.

Lillian’s nursing career included staff nursing, head nurse, and clinical nursing of pediatrics to students at Rhode Island Hospital.

From 1959- 1961 she operated the heart lung machine during open heart surgery at Miriam Ho for Nursing Hospital. From 1962 to 1964 she taught Maternal and child nursing to graduate students at Radcliff College. Lillian then coordinated the nursing program at the Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing.

In the fall of 1964 she began teaching maternal and child nursing at the University of Rhode Island.

Following the completion of her Doctoral Study, Lillian participated in the affirmative action program at URI, and represented the University in all aspects of equal rights.

In 1980 she served as the Associate Dean and Associate Professor in teaching at the College of Nursing at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. She went on to teach at the campus for Medical Science in Central Arkansas.

Lillian experienced great satisfaction in all aspects of teaching and found the work challenging, positive and enlightening.

Lillian was a member of the Rhode Island Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association, and the National League for Nursing as a member of Sigma Theta Law International Honor Society of Nurses. She was instrumental in guiding students and faculty in their achievement of the Detta Epsilion Chapter at the University of Rhode Island School of Nursing.

Lillian retired from the University of Central Arkansas in 1996.

During her retirement years in Little Rock, Arkansas, she served as a volunteer at the Hispanic Community on aging for the Catholic Diocese there.

After returning to Rhode Island in 2003 she participated in a variety of political causes. She was a charter member of the Rhode Island Tea Party.

The family would like to thank the staff at Atria Senior Living in Lincoln for their professional courtesy and care during Lillian’s time there.

She is survived by her nieces, Diana M. Nicastro Litterio of North Providence, Charlene Nicastro Thibault and her spouse Christine, of Florida, her nephew Louis Nicastro and his wife Donna of Cumberland. Lillian is also survived by her great nephews, John Litterio, William Litterio and his wife Nikki, and family, Michael and Derek Nesbitt, her great niece Lisa Litterio Narvaez and her husband Jose and their son John. She was the great aunt of the late James Dale Nesbitt.

There will be a funeral service for Lillian on Wednesday, March 9th at 12:30 PM in the Manning-Heffern Funeral Home, 68 Broadway, Pawtucket. Relatives and friends may call from 10:30 am Wednesday morning, prior to the service.