Rita Valely (O’Brien) Sullivan, 98, passed away peacefully on December 19, 2018, with her devoted family by her side. Hers was a life even fuller than it was long, and joyously so. Rita was a city girl, born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. After high school, she worked as a fashion layout artist for large department stores in Illinois and then Wisconsin. During World War 2 she served in the US Navy as a gunnery instructor. After the war, she attended Boston University, where she met her future husband, John, (who predeceased her in 2008 after 60 years of marriage). They were married on their graduation day, and they moved to Taunton in 1950 and started their family. Rita’s love of books, and previous experience at the Boston Public Library, led to her happy employment at the Taunton Public Library for 15 years. She leaves behind five children, six children-in-law, thirteen grandchildren (she joins a fourteenth), six great-grandchildren, and countless friends, all of whom are the richer for having known, and thereby, loved her. The strength of her spirit, love, interests, opinions, and humor are a lasting gift to us all. She was a force and a light. Goodnight, God Bless, Sweet Dreams Mom. A Mass and Celebration of Rita’s life will be planned for late January. Date to be announced.