Rita T. (Busby) Lenox passed away peacefully at home on November 23rd, 2023 at the age of 92. She was the beloved wife of 68 years to Peter F. Lenox.
Rita was a loving mother to Jane Leary and her husband Jim, Maryanne Andrew and her husband Steve, Tom Lenox and his wife Patty, and Therese Horn. Rita was a devoted grandmother to Jay and Jen Leary, Sean and Katie Leary, Amanda Lenox, Christopher Lenox, Brennan Horn, Nolan Horn and Cullen Horn. She was the loving great-grandmother of Madeline Leary, Finn Leary and Kieran Leary. Rita is also survived by her sister Phyllis Busby MacEachern and sister-in-law W. Pauline Davis. She was predeceased by her parents Hazel and James Busby and her sister Doris Busby Conroy.
Born and brought up in Somerville, MA, Rita graduated from St. John’s High School in North Cambridge, MA. She was a Somerville gal true and true until she moved to Medford in 1968, where she lived for 55 years. However, Somerville always had a piece of her heart. After graduating from high school, she worked for the Record American (now the Boston Herald) and the MTA (now the MBTA). After marrying Peter they relocated to Savannah, GA for a short time while he served in the United States Air Force.
Rita retired from the Middlesex County Registry of Deeds after ten years. She was the past prefect of St. Raphael’s Ladies Sodality and a member of the Medford Catholic Women’s Club, the Arlington Catholic Mother’s Guild, and the Arlington Catholic School Board. For over 20 years she spent her summers at White Horse Beach in Plymouth. She enjoyed reading, Irish music and baking – and was well-known for her blueberry and pumpkin breads, which were enjoyed by many family and friends.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to visit at the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford on Thursday November 30th from 4 – 7 PM and again on Friday morning, December 1st at 10 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated in St. Raphael Church, 512 High St., Medford at 11 AM. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Rita’s memory may be made to the Granara Skerry Trust to benefit Pancreatic Cancer at Massachusetts General Hospital, www.pancure.org or PO Box 1047, Medford, MA 02155, or to Massachusetts Early Intervention Consortium-CJ’s Fund c/o Alex Chatfield, 1269 Main St. Concord, MA 01742 or www.cjmoodyfund.com