Pauline M. (Lambert) Rice

WORCESTER – Pauline M. (Lambert) Rice, 94, of Worcester, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 29, 2022, surrounded by her loving family.

Her husband of 46 years, Arthur F. Rice, died in September 2001.  She leaves six children, Suzanne Rice Simoncini and her husband Alan of Worcester, Claire Rice-Fenstermaker and her husband Richard of Somerset, Joanne Rice and her partner Alan Basiliere of Marlborough, Roger Rice and his wife Elizabeth of Holden, Elisabeth Babeu and her husband Roger of Groveland, and Celeste Kimball and her husband Kerry of Southborough; sixteen grandchildren, Daniel Simoncini, Elena Buckley and her husband Ryan, Laura Zuravel and her husband Mark, Eric Fenstermaker and his wife Chelsea, Rachel Fenstermaker and her fiancé Greg Bankowski, Nicole, Alyssa, and Claire Waterman, Ambrey, Juliette and Thomas Rice, Amy Dreher and her husband Nathan, Carolyn Babeu, Jacqueline, Stephen, and Nolan Kimball, and 3 great-grandsons, Caden, Wyatt, and Aidan, many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.  She is predeceased by her sister and brother-in-law, Annette and Lionel Montminy of Quebec, Canada and Arthur’s sister and brother-in-law, Claire and Robert Blais of Westbrook, ME.  She was born in Worcester, daughter of Alfred M. and Juliette (Gosselin) Lambert and lived in Worcester all her life.  She graduated from St. Peter’s High School and the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.   

Pauline was a piano teacher for many years.  She was a longtime member of Notre Dame Church and its Cercle Jeanne Mance.  She was a member of the Music Club of Worcester and the New England Conservatory Alumni Association.  She continued her education by participating in the WISE Program at Assumption College for many years.   While raising six children, she was also an integral part of the family funeral home, working with her husband Arthur.    

Known as Mémère to her grandchildren, Pauline was loved by all who knew her.  She will be dearly missed.

Pauline’s family wishes to thank her caretaker Florence Hendrickson, who cared for her the past three years, as well as the staff at Family Tree Home Care and Care Central VNA & Hospice for the exceptional care they provided during her illness.

A funeral Mass will be held Thursday, June 2, 2022 at 11 a.m. at Holy Family Parish at St. Joseph’s Church, 35 Hamilton St, Worcester.  Calling hours are Wednesday, June 1 from 4:30 – 7:00 pm at Rice Funeral Home, 300 Park Ave.  Burial will be in Notre Dame Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The WISE Program (Worcester Institute of Senior Education), 500 Salisbury St, Worcester MA 01609 (assumptionwise.org) or the Joy of Music Program, 1 Gorham St, Worcester, MA 01605 (jomp.org).