Rita M. (Arsenault) Sasseville Tessier, 91, of New Bedford died Thursday November 24, 2011 at New Bedford Health Care Center. She was the wife of the late Joseph A. Tessier.
Born in Salem, the daughter of the late Joseph P. and Roseanna (Couture) Arsenault, she lived in New Bedford for most of her life.
She was a communicant of Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish.
Mrs. Tessier was formerly employed as a salesperson at Cherry & Webb in New Bedford and at Designer One at the Dartmouth Mall.
She was a member of the Ladies of St. Anne.
Survivors include her son, Deacon Eugene H. Sasseville and his wife Jeanine of Dartmouth; two grandchildren, Susan Saraiva and her husband Fred and Richard Sasseville and his companion Maggie Lague; two great-grandchildren, Angela and Aaron Saraiva; and three nieces and a nephew.
She was the sister of the late Arthur Arsenault and Therese Desrosiers.
Her Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday December 17, 2011 at 9 AM at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Her family will receive visitors at the Church from 8-9 AM prior to the Mass. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the St. Vincent dePaul Society, Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, 121 Mt. Pleasant St., New Bedford, MA 02740. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.