Rita M. Richardson
Tewksbury Hospital Volunteer
TEWKSBURY: Rita M. (Healey) Richardson, age 88, a resident of Tewksbury for over 50 years, passed away on Sunday, January 6, 2013, at the Lowell General Hospital.
She was the beloved wife of George W. "Bill" Richardson, with whom she celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary on June 1, 2012.
Born in Malden on January 22, 1924, she was the daughter of the late John Healey and the late Catherine (Fogarty) Healey.
Rita was raised in Everett, attended Everett schools and graduated from Everett High School.
During World War II, she served as a Stenographer in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves.
Rita resided in Wilmington until moving to Tewksbury in 1961.
She was a member of the Tewksbury Golden Age Club and frequent visitor at the Tewksbury Senior Drop-In-Center, where she previously taught Tap dance.
Rita was a former volunteer at the Tewksbury Hospital, where she and her husband assisted patients at Sunday Mass.
She was an avid tap dancer, enjoyed playing golf at the Billerica Country Club, where she was a member of the Women's Golf League and traveling with her husband to ski the Swiss and Italian Alps.
In addition to her husband Bill, she is survived by three daughters, Judith A. Gollwitzer and her husband William of Venice, FL, Christine M. Campbell and her husband Philip of Nashua, NH, and Karen L. Sharkey and her husband James of Tewksbury; also seven grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews.
Rita was the sister of the late Anne Scamporino and John "Buddy" Healey.
Calling hours are Wednesday, Jan. 9, from 4-8 p.m., (G.A.C. Service 4:30 p.m.) at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee St., Tewksbury. Her funeral will be held Thursday, Jan. 10, at 9 a.m., from the funeral home, followed by her Funeral Mass at 10 a.m., in St. William's Church, 1351 Main St., Rte. 38, Tewksbury. Interment at Tewksbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Tewksbury Senior Center, 175 Chandler St., Tewksbury. MA 01876.