Rita F. (Paivo) Rice, 86, of Wareham formerly of Franklin , died January 20 in St. Luke’s Hospital, New Bedford. She was the wife of the late Dr. Francis E. Rice, Jr. who died in 1997.
Born in Boston, December 8,1932, the daughter of the late Manuel J. and Mary V. (McCue) Paivo, Rita was raised in Roxbury and had lived in Franklin for over 50 years before moving to Wareham.
She had been the office manager in her late husband’s dental office in Franklin for many years. She loved boating in Cape Cod and Narragansett Bay with her large family. Affectionately, known as “Rita the rock” due to her strength and dedication to her husband and children.
Rita is survived by her children, Francis E. Rice III of Wareham, Bernard W. Rice of Wareham, Michael M. Rice of Douglas, Kevin J. Rice of Fairhaven, Mark E. Rice of Scottsdale, Arizona, Matthew F. Rice of Hudson and Leslie A. Rice of Hillsborough, New Hampshire.
She is also survived by her sisters Mary Paivo and Peggy McLean of Walpole and was the sister of the late Agnes Sutherland and Ann Sansone.
Rita is also survived by her 14 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
Her funeral will be held on Tuesday, January 29 from the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin (www.ginleyfuneralhomes.com ) 131 Main Street, Franklin at 9:15 followed by a funeral mass in St. Mary’s Church at 10:00. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
Calling hours will be on Monday from 5-8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.