Laura Riggs

East Lyme — Laura I. (Sallese) Schiavone Riggs, 86, entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, April 25, 2018.

Born in Watertown, Mass., April 26, 1931, daughter of the late Pasquale and Carmella (Spera) Sallese, she was a graduate of Medford High School and the Malden Hospital School of Nursing, both in Massachusetts, where she received her degree as a registered nurse.

Laura worked in the newborn and infant critical care unit at Malden Hospital. She also worked for over 20 years for Dr. Peter Rabinovitch in Waterford, retiring in 1986. She was a member of the Democratic Town Committee in Waterford and was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Church in New London.

She was predeceased by her husband, Ralph Schiavone and her husband, John “Andy” Riggs. She was also predeceased by two daughters, Linda Anhalt and Laureen Schiavone.

She leaves a son, Steven “Stash” Schiavone and his wife, Lucy, of New London; a daughter, Susan (Schiavone) Pauels and her husband, Nippy, of Stuart, Fla.; three brothers, Joseph Sallese of Woburn, Mass., Robert Sallese of Derry, N.H., and Pasquale Sallese of Lexington, Mass.; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Laura loved the symphony, theater, the beach and playing the piano in addition to playing the slots at the casino. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and will be missed greatly.

Relatives and friends are invited to a funeral Mass at noon Monday at St. Joseph’s Church, 17 Squire St., New London. The burial will follow in Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic. There are no calling hours.

Impellitteri-Malia Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.