Maria Rosa (Loleggio) Kessimian

Maria Rosa Kessimian (née Loleggio), 81, of Cranston, passed away on September 11, 2026, at Briarcliffe Gardens in Johnston.

Maria was born on January 24, 1945 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She had a great number of careers in her life, starting out as an educator teaching kindergartners, then embraced her love of travel as a sales representative for Aerolineas Argentinas and owning a travel agency all by her early twenties in Argentina.

She married her husband Noubar Kessimian and together they moved to the United States. There they raised their family in Maria’s favorite town in Rhode Island --Cranston.

When her children were in school, Maria returned to the workforce in a job she loved as an interpreter for the Cranston Public Schools.

Maria loved cooking, knitting, gardening, reading, and traveling. During her life she had been to a variety of places all over the world. Favorites included Europe, Tahiti, Barbados, and visiting her family in Argentina. She loved hunting for the best bargains and was known by many salespeople at Macy’s, Marshall’s, and Banana Republic. Above all, she loved spending time with and caring for her family, especially her grandchildren whom she routinely spoiled.

Towards the end of her life, her infectious laugh, teasing, and love extended to the many wonderful and caring people who took care of her at Briarcliffe Gardens to whom her family is very grateful.

She is survived by her husband Noubar Kessimian and her children Paul Kessimian, Marianna Kessimian, and Natalie Kessimian. She is also survived by her daughter-in-law Brianne Kessimian and sons-in-law Jamieson Cohn and Trevor Yingling. She leaves behind six grandchildren (Isabella, Alexander, Harper, Cyrus, Michael, and Nathan). She is also survived by her sister-in-law Aida Pogacar and her nephews Andre and Peter. She also leaves behind her beloved familia in Argentina including her hermana Graciela Loleggio and her husband Eduardo Licciardi and their children Daniela and Pablo, her hermano Hector Loleggio and his wife Patricia, and their children Eliana and Dario, and her brother-in-law Carlos Kessimian and his wife Miriam Delfosse.

She was preceded in death by her mother Lidia Zanetto and her beloved uncle Tio Cholo Loleggio, as well as her niece Valeria Kessimian, nephew Damian Kessimian, brother-in-law Srecko Pogacar, and sister-in-law Clara Kessimian.

Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to Care Alzheimer’s Fund (https://curealz.org/).