Rita Letourneau

RUMFORD -- Rita Letourneau, 92 passed away on February 26, 2013 at the Rumford Hospital.

She was born on June 8, 1920, daughter of Claudia and Alfred Roy.

Rita spent most of her life raising her family, and living on the Swift River in Frye. She married Phillip Letourneau on October 14, 1940. Always proud of living economically, she worked a large garden and ran a roadside vegetable stand by Frye Bridge for many years For several years, it was a hotdog and hamburger stand as well. Folks traveling to Rangeley and Roxbury pond could depend on stopping to get veggies, fresh from the garden.

Rita was very competitive when it came to playing cards, or bowling. She was a member of the Bomberette's Women’s Bowling League, served as captain for a time, and was one of the top scorers into her 90’s. Christmas was a favorite time of year. She is remembered for saving the paper, ribbon, and bows rather than tossing them because they were perfectly good to use again. Her grandchildren always looked forward to the homemade sugar cookies and other goodies that she boxed up for them.

She was a communicant of St Theresa’s, then the Church of the Holy Savior. She was a member of the St. Theresa’s Guild and the Extension

She is survived by her sons, Phillip and wife, Mary of Florida, Paul of Buxton; daughter, Ann (Letourneau) and husband, Fernand Bellegarde of Rumford; son-in-law, Rosiare Chartier of Frye; sister, Theresa (Roy) Crawford of Mexico; grandchildren, Jennifer Letourneau Florida, Kim Letourneau of N. Carolina, Renee Letourneau, Michael Letourneau, both of Portland, Jessica and husband, Andy Noniewicz of Greene, Kevin Grassette, Scot and wife, Cindy Grassette, and Keith Grassette of Rumford, Danny and wife, Pam Chartier of Andover, Lisa and husband, Shawn Walch Rumford, Grace and husband, Steve St. Cyr of New Castle and Adeline Greene of Old Orchard; great-grandchildren, Coty Chartier, Zach and Kaitlyn Grassette, Amber Grassette Tasha Jasud, Jennifer St. Cyr, John Greene, Lindsey Greene, Nicolas Harriman, Ali and Brianna Noniewicz; great-great grandchildren, Kloe Touchette, Skye Frobose, Wyatt and Jillian Patnaude; nieces and nephews, Alfred Roy, Corrina Roy and Ayden, Shawn wife, Julie Troy Megan, Lee Crawford, Lisa, and Mario Puiia, Janna and Bill Shuster and Kayla Shuster, all who loved her very dearly.

She was predeceased by her husband, Phillip Letourneau; daughter, Pricilla Chartier; daughter-in-law, Carol Letourneau; and grandson, David Chartier.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at Parish of the Holy Savior. Spring interment will be held at St. John’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Patrick Dempsey Center for Hope and Healing at www.dempseycenter.org.