Mrs. Rita M. (Emond) Arieta, of Taunton, died Saturday, March 1, 2014, at her residence following a period of failing health, surrounded by her family. She was the beloved wife of the late Robert S. Arieta. She was born 80 years ago in Taunton, the daughter of the late Oscar and Mildred (Olson) Emond. She was educated in Taunton, having graduated from the former St. Mary’s High School, Class of 1951, and had been a lifelong city resident. Prior to her retirement, Rita had been employed by the Tax Collector’s Office of the City of Taunton for 11 years. She was previously employed as the Assistant Treasurer at the Weir Cooperative Bank for 16 years. She was an avid reader, enjoyed bingo and crossword puzzles, and loved any outing with her family and her sisters. She looked forward to her trips with her friends, especially to Foxwoods and Atlantic City. Rita remained interested and involved in the local politics of the city and the state, and for many years was a Warden for the City of Taunton polls. She was a member of the St. Mary’s Retirement Club and the City of Taunton Retirees Association. She was the life of any party, and she and her siblings enjoyed their frequent card games and visits together, which had been a tradition among them for years. Rita was most happy spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Taunton.
She leaves: 2 daughters: Linda Ferreira and her husband, Michael of Taunton, and Susan Silvia and her husband, Brian of Mission Viejo, CA.; 1 son: Thomas Arieta and his wife Jacquelyn of Rehoboth; 4 brothers: Kenneth Emond and his wife, Dolly, and Dennis Emond and his wife, Debbie, all of Taunton, David Emond and his wife, Marsha of Assonet, and Harold Emond and his wife, Gail of Westport, MA.; 2 sisters: Claire J. Goldrick and Vivian McCreadie both of Taunton; 3 sisters-in-law: Dorothy Emond of Taunton, Teresa Arieta and Carol Reagan both of Mission Viejo, CA.; 1 brother-in-law: Richard Arieta and his wife, Gail of Kingston, MA. She was the grandmother of Chris Ferreira and his girlfriend, Christen Conant, Christina Arieta-Kuksin and her husband, Dmitry, Lauren Ferreira, Carla Silvia, Ian Arieta, and Gregory Silvia. She leaves many nieces and nephews, and dear friends. Rita was also the mother of the late Philip Arieta and the sister of the late Normand, D.Richard, and Lawrence Emond.
Funeral services will be held from The Riendeau-Mulvey Funeral Home, 467 Bay Street, on Friday, March 7 at 9:00 A.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Church at 10:00 A.M. Internment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting Hours will be held on Thursday, March 6, from 4:00 to 7:30 P.M. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Assocaition, Southeastern MA/Cape Cod & the Islands Regional Office, Village South Plaza, 473 South Street West, Unit 13, Raynham, MA., 02767, or Bristol County Elder Services, Inc., Development Department, 1 Father DeValles Boulevard, Unit 8, Fall River, MA., 02723.