South Kingstown - Lois (Kyle) Guise, 83, of Grand Brook Drive, Wakefield and formerly of Lincoln, died unexpectedly July 15, 2009 at home. She was the wife of the late William R. Guise.

Born in Pawtucket, the youngest daughter of the late Robert and Myra (Bellows) Kyle, she had lived in Lincoln for 52 years before moving to Wakefield 4 years ago. She summered in Little Compton for all 83 of her years.

She was a 1944 graduate of Pawtucket West High School and received her B.S. Degree in English/Psychology and Sociology from Rhode Island State College (URI) in 1948 where she was also president of the Delta Zeta Sorority. She did postgraduate work at Ohio Wesleyan University in Psychology (1951-52) and received her M.Ed. and C.A.G.S.in Counseling & Guidance from Rhode Island College in 1975 and 1980, respectively. She also received her Certification in Thanatology (Associate’s Degree for Death Education and Counseling) in 2001.

Mrs. Guise began her professional career at Edgewood Junior College as Director of Dormitories & Associate Director of Admissions (1948-50) where she also taught tennis. From 1950-51, she was the Director of Student Activities at Rhode island School of Nursing. While at Ohio Wesleyan University in 1951-52, she was a Graduate Assistant in the Counseling & Psychology Dept. From 1952-68, she raised her family and returned to her career in 1968 as an elementary classroom teacher in the Lincoln School System. Always drawn to people in need, Lois shifted from teaching to School Guidance in 1974 at Lincoln Junior/Senior High School ultimately rising to the position of Director of Guidance in 1990 until 1996.

Simultaneous to her career in School Guidance, Lois established the Bereavement Program for Home & Hospice Care of RI in 1980 and was named Bereavement Coordinator in 1986. She later became the Director for Bereavement Services in 1990 until her retirement in 2004.

Her professional affiliations include the following: American Counseling Association, American School Counselor Association, North Atlantic Region Delegate for AACD; American and New England Associations for Small Group Specialists; New England Conference for Counseling and Development; Rhode Island Personnel and Guidance Association (now known as the Rhode Island Association for Counseling and Development, where she was a Board Member and President of the RIPGA for 4 years); Rhode Island Mental Health Counselor’s Association; Rhode Island Group Psychotherapy Society; Governor’s Commission on Youth and Alcohol (1983-88); Lincoln Substance Abuse Task Force (1987-90); Lincoln High School (Youth, Alcohol and Substance Abuse Coordinator – 1984-88); Delta Kappa Gamma and Alpha Delta Kappa – Educational Honorary Societies and President of Delta Kappa Gamma (1976-80); National Hospice Association; Association for Death Education and Counseling (1988 to the present); and the New England Center for Loss and Transition.

The acknowledgements for her service were many and include: 1985 State of Rhode Island “Counselor of the Year”; 1982 Department of Health & Human Services Regional Volunteer Award; 1985 Hospice Care of Rhode Island Volunteer of the Year; 1985 Rhode Island Nomination for the Katherine and Gilbert Wrenn Humanitarian Award, American Association of Counseling and Development. In 1989, by proclamation of the Governor and recognition of the Lincoln Town Administrator, a “Lois Guise Day” was declared in conjunction with the Substance Abuse Task Force.

Lois was a pivotal member at the First Baptist Church, Pawtucket for over 70 years, where she served as president for 9 years and also served on its Board of Deacons, Christian Education Committee, Music Committee and the Missions Board, to name a few.

The loves of Lois’ life were her family and her friends; she loved to entertain her friends; her recent Celebration of Life party will not be forgotten by any who attended; Lois was also an avid reader, loved tennis both as a player (playing through her 60’s) and a professional tennis devotee; she loved the ocean, especially at Little Compton where she could be found on the porch every August, book in hand. No matter the situation, Lois gave of herself to those in need. She would never say no, and those that had the honor of her caring were all the better for it. Many a person alone at the holidays would join Lo and Bill’s family celebrations. In later years, she basked in her grandchildren and each of their accomplishments. She was a very proud wife, mother and grandmother.

Lois is survived by one daughter, Barbara K. Hart of Kingston; four sons, Robert W. Guise of Milton, MA; Stephen H. Guise of Fullerton, CA, Jonathan R. Guise of Lincoln and David B. Guise of Middletown, DE; one sister, Eleanor Morrison of Bristol; fourteen grandchildren; one great granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Barbara Kyle, R. Spencer Kyle, Stuart D. Kyle and Evan R. Kyle.

Her funeral will be held MONDAY, JULY 20 at 10 A.M. at the First Baptist Church, 91 Cottage Street, Pawtucket. Burial will be private.

Relatives and friends are invited and may call at BELLOWS-FALSO FUNERAL CHAPEL, 160 River Road, Lincoln SUNDAY 2-6 P.M. Kindly omit flowers. Contributions in Mrs. Guise’s memory to Home & Hospice Care of RI, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904 would be appreciated. For Directions and Guest Book, please visit www.bellowsfh.com .

Reported: 07/16/09 (Show all obituaries for this day)
By: Bellows-Falso Funeral Chapel (Show all obituaries and information about this funeral home)

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