CRANSTON, R.I. - Funeral services were held yesterday in Cranston for Patricia DiPrete, who used her position as wife of a Rhode Island governor to battle teenage pregnancy and increase options for homeless women.
Mrs. DiPrete died Thursday of complications of progressive supranuclear palsy, a neurodegenerative brain disease. She was 76.
Her husband, Edward DiPrete, served as governor from 1985 to 1991.
During those years she was known for her work fighting teen pregnancy and helping to establish the state’s first shelter for homeless women.
A registered nurse, she also worked as a cashier for a time while her husband served 11 months in prison after pleading guilty to accepting kickbacks and bribes.
Besides her husband, she leaves seven children and 20 grandchildren.
A funeral Mass was said yesterday in Cranston.