Rita M. Johnson, 90
Dateline: Norton, MA
Rita M. (Desmarais) Johnson, age 90, of Norton, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, two days before her 91st birthday, on Monday August 8, 2022 at Christopher Heights in Attleboro. She was the beloved wife of the late Alfred S. Johnson, Jr., to whom she was wed for sixty-two years at the time of his death on January 7, 2012.
Born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island on August 10, 1931, she was a loving daughter of the late Adelard and Annette (Lemieux) Desmarais.
Rita grew up in Rumford and was educated in East Providence Schools. She had made her home in Norton for the past twenty-three years, where she was an active communicant of Saint Mary’s Church in Norton and formerly sang in the church choir. She was also a former member of the Knights of Columbus Auxiliary in Rhode Island.
A dedicated homemaker to her adoring family, whom she loved dearly and will be greatly missed by; Rita had previously worked at the former Apex Department Store in Pawtucket.
Her hobbies included being an avid golfer and also enjoying knitting, reading and gardening.
Over the past two years, Rita had a fulfilled life enjoying all the activities Christopher Heights had to offer.
She is survived by her devoted children: Charlene C. Fletcher and her husband Jeff of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, Judy A. Burgess and her husband Bill of Norton and the late Alfred S. Johnson, III, who is survived by his wife Cheryl of Smithfield, Rhode Island. She was the dear sister of Claire Remy of Mansfield, Del Desmarais and his wife Marilyn of Glen, New Hampshire and Raymond Desmarais and his wife Joyce of Albany, New Hampshire and Florida. She is also survived by her cherished 8 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, as well as her loving nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her granddaughter Stacy Johnson.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend visiting hours on Friday, August 12th from 4:00-7:00 P.M. at the Norton Memorial Funeral Home, 19 Clapp Street, (Off Route 140, Taunton Avenue) Norton.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, August 13th at 11:00 A.M. in Saint Mary’s Church, 1 Power Street, Norton. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, Rita’s family would prefer that donations in her memory to be made to the Christopher Heights Activity Fund, 45 South Main Street, Attleboro, MA 02703.
To send her family a message of condolence, please visit www.nortonmemorial.com