Methuen, MA- Rita P. (Howard) Toomey, 92, died Monday, December 13, 2010 at home, with her husband of 64 years, William J. Toomey, and her family by her side.
Born in Methuen on April 30, 1918, Rita was the daughter of Raymond A. and Mary (Mulcrone) Howard. She was educated in the Methuen School system and was a graduate of the Edward F. Searles High School.
Rita dedicated her life to raising and caring for her family. She was a lifelong member of St. Monica’s Church and a past Prefect of St. Monica’s Sodality. She was an avid bowler and loved to cook and sew, especially making doll clothes for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Along with her husband William J., Rita will be sadly missed by her four sons, William P. and his wife Shirley of Methuen, Raymond J. and his wife Diane of Methuen, John E. and his wife Patricia of Salem, NH, and Michael J. and his wife Stacey of West Newfield, ME, her grandchildren, Kathy A. Mejia and her husband Phillip of Salem, NH, Shaun E. Toomey and his wife Jennifer of Salem, NH, Jason Toomey and his wife Kim of Whitinsville, MA, Matthew D. Toomey of Culver City, CA, Stephanie A. Goudreau and her husband Charles of Salem, NH, Kelly A. Toomey of Salem, NH, William E. Toomey of Methuen, William C. Brackett and his wife Lisa of Merrimack, NH, and Amy Fortier and her husband Serge of Nashua, NH. She will also be deeply missed by her great-grandchildren, Christopher, Megan, Kendalyn, Kelsey, Erin N., Erin R., Kayla, Christopher, Alyson, Breann, Dawson, Connor and Bryan. She is also survived by her sister Dorothy Kiley and niece Patricia Hanson both of Lowell.
ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects on Friday morning, December 17th at 9:30 a.m. at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, 233 Lawrence St, Methuen. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 a.m. at St. Monica’s Church and then burial will take place at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Lawrence. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rita’s name to the Merrimack Valley Hospice, 360 Merrimack St., Bldg. 9, Lawrence, MA 01843. For more information and to leave an online condolence, story or message please visit www.pollardfuneralhome.com