For nearly 102 years Rita Blackburn lived for and loved her family with all her heart. That will always be her enduring legacy.
Rita Blackburn, 101, passed away peacefully on Wednesday December 6, 2023 at St. Antoine Residence. She was the loving wife of the late James W. Blackburn. They were married on November 25, 1950 at St. Charles Church and shared many years together until his passing in 1980.
Rita came into the world on January 4, 1922 at home in North Smithfield. She was the daughter of the late Adelard and Louisa (Maelht) Lefebvre and was raised in North Smithfield. She lived most of her life in Woonsocket and also resided in Blackstone for a number of years. Rita lived at St. Antoine Residence for the past several years where she found a caring and supportive home amongst her fellow residents and the staff.
Rita was employed at Tupperware for over 25 years before retiring.
Family was at the center of Rita’s life. Some of her favorite pastimes were reading, word search, watching figure skating, and being skilled in crochet.
Rita was blessed to have lived a long life and see a whole century come to pass. Having made it to just shy of 102 Rita would no doubt take it all in stride as she saw each and every day as a gift to be treasured. Her family is forever grateful to all the caregivers at St. Antoine Residence.
Rita was the mother of the late Anita M. Lamoureux who passed away in 2016.
Rita is survived by her granddaughter Ann Costello and great- granddaughter Cassandra Langlois who cared for her, her two grandchildren Vivian C. Essoi and Thomas A. Lamoureux, her late granddaughter Jeanne A. Sevigny and her 9 great-grandchildren and 6 great- great-grandchildren. She was the sister of Aurore Laforest of Connecticut and the late Edward, Adelard, William, Albert, Alfred and Raymond Lefebvre, Rena Marcotte, Theresa Krepp and Doris Tetreault. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and their families.
Relatives and friends are invited to honor, remember and celebrate Rita’s life at her funeral service on Friday December 15, 2023 at 11:00 am at Menard-Lacouture Funeral Home, 127 Carrington Ave. Woonsocket. Rita will be laid to rest alongside her husband James at Union Cemetery in North Smithfield. Visiting hours are Friday morning from 9:00-11:00 am prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Arthritis Foundation at www.arthritis.org.
www.menardfuneralhome.com