Virginia Mary Fortin

Virginia Mary (Bessette) Fortin, 99, of Rumford, passed away peacefully and surrounded by loved ones at home on September 23, 2026. Born in Pawtucket, RI on November 4, 1926 to Alfred J. Sr. and Mary V. (Cavanagh) Bessette, she was predeceased by six brothers: Alfred Jr. (Margaret), John (Mary), Phillip ( Gertrude), William (Noella), Gilbert, and Paul (Claire). Her brother Gib described her as "the best first baseman in the neighborhood” growing up. 

Virginia (Ginny) attended Sacred Heart Elementary and graduated Sacred Heart High School ‘44 and Rhode Island College of Education ‘48, majoring in Elementary Education. After graduation, she taught in the Pawtucket school system. On December 29, 1951 she married Robert G. Fortin and thereafter moved to Quebec where he attended Laval University Medical School. After graduation, they moved back to Pawtucket with three children in tow where he practiced family medicine for the next 45 years and she raised a growing family. 

Virginia had eight children: Diane (d. Adam), Marc (Gretchen), Kevin (Lynda), Andrea (Walter), Roberta (Jonathan), Melanie (Richard), Robert (Jane), and Alison (William). She was blessed with thirteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. 

She considered her family to be her greatest legacy and enjoyed visits with her 8 children and their families especially during annual Charlestown Beach Week reunions.Virginia and Dr. Bob were longtime members of Pawtucket Country Club and, in retirement, Bear Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach. She was an avid and talented golfer, Bridge player, 10K runner, crossword puzzler, reader and enthusiastic, life-long sports fan of all teams Boston and Providence College basketball. She also enjoyed cooking for her large family, shuttling her kids to swim meets and sporting events, and hosting relatives and friends at the holidays. Intelligent, studious, kind, reliable, fair, and joyful, she was a devout Catholic and demonstrated her faith through actions. She had deep affection for her many nieces and nephews and their families who showered her with attention and love. At the most recent family reunion – and always- she regaled family with stories and memories.

Family welcomes you to calling hours 4:00 - 7:00 PM at Manning-Heffern-O’Neill Funeral Home (Pawtucket) on Wednesday, September 30th. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Margaret’s Church (Rumford) on Thursday, October 1st at 10:00 AM with interment at RI Veterans Memorial Cemetery (Exeter) the following day, Friday, October 2nd at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, Virginia’s family kindly requests donations to Jeanne Jugan/Little Sisters of the Poor, 964 Main St., Pawtucket, RI, 02860, or the Rhode Island Food Bank, 200 Niantic Ave., Providence, RI, 02907.