She had been a Waltham resident since 1957. She was raised in St. Paul and lived for a time in Toronto and in Halifax, Nova Scotia before moving to Waltham.

Until her retirement Rita worked for BLH Electronics in Waltham and in Canton. She had been a member of the Third Order of Mary and the Ladies Guild at Saint Joseph's Church in Waltham where she also served as a Eucharistic minister for many years

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