Worcester__Rita I. (Prunier) Guertin, 86, of 2 Short Street, passed away Sunday, October 16, in St. Francis Home, after an illness.
Her husband of 55 years, Louis A. Guertin, died in 1997. She leaves a son, Robert J. Guertin and his wife Suzanne of Worcester; a daughter, Janet G. Williams and her husband Robert of Alfred, NY; two grandsons, Jeffrey Williams and his wife Molly of West Sand Lake, NY, and Matthew Guertin and his wife Erin, of Oxford; two great grandchildren, Kathleen and Tanner Williams, both of West Sand Lake, NY. She was predeceased by two brothers, Roland and Joseph, and four sisters, Julia, Shirley, Grace, and Eva. Mrs. Guertin was born in Worcester July 3, 1919, daughter of Joseph and Rose (Harper) Prunier, and lived her entire life in the city. She graduated from David Hale Fanning Girls Trade School.
She worked for many years as a hairdresser. She also enjoyed making ceramics and operated her own business for a time.
She was a lifelong parishioner of St. Joseph’s Church. She and her husband played active roles in the campaign to save the church from closing in 1995.
The funeral will be held Friday, October 21, from DIRSA-MORIN FUNERAL HOME, 298 Grafton St., with a Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Church, 35 Hamilton St. Burial will be in Notre Dame Cemetery. Calling hours are from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, October 20, in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Rita’s memory may be made to St. Joseph’s Church, Restoration Fund, 5 Whitman Road, Worcester, MA 01609.