Rita M. O’Sullivan
Retired Tewksbury teacher
Rita M. (Trepaney) O’Sullivan, age 83, of Tewksbury, passed away peacefully at Bayberry at Emerald Court in Tewksbury on Saturday, February 1, 2025.
She was the widow of Thomas D. O’Sullivan, who passed away in 2014.
Born in Medford on October 31, 1941, she was the daughter of the late Archibald P. Trepaney and the late Mary C (Miller) Trepaney.
Rita was raised in Medford and was a graduate of Girl’s Catholic High School in Malden.
After graduating high school, she attended Boston State College while waiting on acceptance to become a candidate at the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Baltimore, MD. She became a S.S.N.D in 1960, serving the Catholic Church for 8 years as a teaching sister in Rochester, NY and received her B.A degree in French. She decided to leave the convent and returned to her hometown of Medford in 1968. She married in 1971 and attended Salem State College earning her master ‘s degree in Education, Guidance & Counseling Shortly thereafter, they started their Family.
Prior to her retirement, Rita served as a teacher in the Tewksbury Public School System, where she taught for many years.
While living in Tewksbury, she was a communicant of St. William’s Parish. Rita was active in her church and had served as the director of the children’s choir.
She enjoyed many activities including playing the piano and organ, teaching piano lessons, spending time with her “Girl’s Catholic club” friends and grandchildren. She enjoyed crossword puzzles and a good political conversation.
Rita is survived by her daughters, Mary Kay Dunlop and her husband Lee, of New Ipswich, NH, Colleen Mitchell and her husband Ricky, of San Antonio, TX, and Erin O’Sullivan, of Lowell: five grandchildren, Danielle and Ryan Dunlop, Ricky, Michaela and Keira Mitchell. She was the sister of Arthur Trepaney and his wife Sue, of Billerica, Paul Trepaney and his wife Kay, of West Chester, OH, and the late Irene Goldie and her late husband Francis, and Anne Gibbons and her late husband Thomas. She leaves many nieces, nephews, extended family members and colleagues.
Calling hours are Thursday, February 6, from 4-7 p.m., at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee St., Tewksbury. Her funeral procession will begin on Friday, February 7, at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by her Funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m. at St. William’s Church, 1351 Main St., Rte. 38 Tewksbury. Services will conclude with interment at Oak Grove Cemetery, 230 Playstead Road, Medford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. William’s Church, 1351 Main St., Tewksbury, MA 01876.