Jean Marie (Allegretti) Gauthier

On Sunday, March 7, 2021, Jean Marie Gauthier (Allegretti) passed away at the age of 89. Jean was born on August 11, 1931, in Providence, RI, where she grew up. Jean was extremely close to her parents and four siblings, and they all lived together on West Clifford Street in Providence. Jean attended St. Xavier Academy in Providence, an all-girls school, and was a member of glee club and drama club. After graduation, at just 18 years old, Jean traveled across the country, all the way to California, with only her sister, Paula. She always claimed she just wanted to see the world, but more than likely her real intention was to take Hollywood by storm. Hollywood wasn’t prepared yet for a woman as progressive as she, so she returned to Providence and worked at Sears and Roebuck. On her lunch breaks, she’d go across the street to Howard Johnson’s, where she’d often order a grilled English muffin “well-done” from a cook named John Gauthier. It wasn’t long after that John and Jean went on their first date, and they married on September 5, 1953.  They raised two children together, Gail Ann and John Paul “Jack” Gauthier II, on President Avenue in East Providence, and Jean took care of the homefront while John worked. Eventually, they relocated briefly to Westfield, MA, where Jean won awards for her work at the Westfield Women’s Club. Jean and John eventually moved back to Cranston, where she began a theater club called The Traveling Players. As Director of The Traveling Players troupe and also an actor, she put on and acted in plays and musicals throughout southern New England. Additionally, Jean worked as a realtor for Albert Realty for a number of years, even once earning the title of realtor of the year, an award she displayed prominently. Jean was also a proud Honorary member (for more than 20 years) of The Sons and Daughters of Italy and acted as the club’s president for five years.

Jean Marie Gauthier liked things well-done. Be it toast, pizza, or Italian bread, Jean would let you know if the food wasn’t cooked to her liking, and her liking happened to be on the crunchy side. If you went out to dinner with Jean, there was a mental preparation involved, a readying of the mind and a steeling of the heart, because if she wasn’t happy with the food placed in front of her, not only would she send it back, but you’d be leaving with a gift card for future visits. Cashiers be warned, if Jean cut open a watermelon and found it wasn’t sweet enough, you can bet she’d be marching back into Shaw’s and asking for a refund and perhaps a personal apology from the poor soul who happened to be working that day. Jean Gauthier, not once in all her life, paid full price for anything. Not a car, not a diamond, not a sandwich. If there was a deal to be had, Jean would know about it, and she’d also convince the person ringing her up to accept an expired coupon from her stash. However, if you impressed Jean, you’d never hear the end of it. There would be notes and calls to show appreciation for years to come. These few small anecdotes provide just a tiny glimpse into the unique character that was Jean Gauthier.

Jean was a strong-willed woman who was always in the mood to entertain. Whether it be about politics, celebrity gossip, or about this year’s Oscar nominees, she had the ability to light up a room with her enthusiastic conversations. She was a movie star without an actual film credit (despite the number of plays she was in, or movies she was an extra for), and she treated the world as her stage. One of her greatest passions was acting, and she was very proud to be an original member of the Trinity Repertory Theater in Providence in the early 1960’s. No one forgot Jean, even if only meeting her once; her personality was as loud as her often sequined clothing choices and she truly put on a great show for anyone in view.

Probably the most prominent character trait of Jean Marie Gauthier was her innate ability to insert herself passionately and solidly into the lives of people she loved. And she loved a lot of people. Jean’s house in Cranston was the true definition of “Grandma’s house,” a title earned by the food (read: pasta) and unconditional love that was dished out there by Jean.

Jean lived her life like she liked her toast, well-done, and no one will ever forget her.

Jean is preceded in death by her father, Gaetano Allegretti, her mother, Cristine Allegretti, her sisters, Paula Grant (Allegretti) and Marian Testa, and her husband, John Paul Gauthier. She is survived by her sister, Lilliana D’ovidio (Allegretti), her brother, Anthony Allegretti, her daughter, Gail, and her husband, David, her son, Jack, and his wife, Elaine, her grandchildren, John Paul “Jake” III, Jesse, David, and Vanessa, and her husband, Josh, and her great-grandchildren, Henry and Abigail Jean.

Visiting hours will be held on Friday, March 12, 2021, from 6 pm-9 pm with a prayer service at 6:30 pm in the Nardolillo Funeral Home, 1278 Park Ave, Cranston, RI, 02910. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 13, 2021, beginning at 10 am at St. Joseph’s Church, 854 Providence Street, West Warwick, RI, 02893.Burial will be private . Visit NardolilloFH.com for full obituary.