Rita Marie (MacNeil) O’Brien, 74 formerly of Franklin died January 19 in the Branches of North Attleboro following a period of declining health. She was the wife of the late John T. O’Brien , Jr. who died in 2017.
Born in Cape Bretton, Canada, May 2, 1945, the daughter of the late Thomas and Catherine (MacMurray) MacNeil, Mrs. O’Brien
was raised in Jamaica Plain and had lived in Franklin from 1972 until moving to North Attleboro in 2018.
Rita had worked for the John Hancock Insurance Company.
She had enjoyed traveling and along with her husband has spent 15 years in their Winter home in Naples , Florida until her illness.
She loved the beach, going out to eat and above all being in the lives of her grandchildren.
She is survived by her children, Suzanne Davis of North Attleboro and John T. O’Brien III and his wife Laurie of Lincoln, Rhode Island.
She is also survived by her siblings, Daniel MacNeil and his wife Debbie of Canada, Dolores Sheppard and her husband Gerald of Plainville and Anne Marie Donahue and her husband Jack of Naples, Florida.
She is also survived by her grandchildren, Christopher Charles Davis, Eleanor Elizabeth Davis, John T. O’Brien IV, Haylee Catherine O’Brien, Aidan Thomas O’Brien and Savannah Rose O’Brien.
Her funeral will be held on Friday, January 24 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 private.
Calling hours will be held on Thursday from 4-8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to the American Stroke Association, PO Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005.