Rita S. Duquette

Rita C. Duquette 1925-2014 Wilbraham- Rita Claire (Sullivan) Duquette drifted off into the arms of Angels on December 22nd at LifeCare Center in Wilbraham. Her beloved husband of 67 years, Charles E. Duquette, Sr., recently passed away in September of this year. She was also predeceased by her loving sister, Joan (Sullivan) Brodowski of Springfield. Rita was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on July 10, 1925, the daughter of Anna (Manning) Sullivan and Patrick Joseph Sullivan. She attended Our Lady of Sacred Heart Grammar School and went on to graduate from Commerce High School. As a young woman she worked at Safe Deposit & Trust on State Street, then Mass Mutual, and later in the City of Springfield school system. Throughout her career she was an active member and officer of the Springfield Cafeteria Workers Association, and retired after 37 years in her final position as cook at Brunton School in Sixteen Acres. Rita worked with children as a volunteer in the Springfield schools and also with the A.C.T.S. Tutoring program. She strongly believed that, "If you can read you can do anything." In her free time she loved to bake, craft, paint, knit, crochet, and she could sew just about anything. She was a straight talking and spirited "Girl from the Hill" who enjoyed a good song, a good book, a good laugh, and any time at all spent with family. She is survived by her two wonderful sisters, Kathleen Wright of Indian Orchard and Pauline Pouliot Nowell of Clearwater, Florida. She will be deeply missed by her four children; Patrick Duquette and his wife Sheila of Monson, Jeffrey Duquette of Southwick, Christine Newton and her husband Ralph of Monson, and Charles E. Duquette, Jr. and his wife Jacqueline of Stoughton. Rita will forever be in the hearts of her beloved grandchildren, Nicolas Duquette, Douglas Duquette, Joan Elizabeth Long, Erin Duquette, and Sara Wenzel. The joys of her life were her great-grandchildren Haley Long, Nadine Long, Alice Finn McFarland, Clive Duquette, Grace Wenzel and Joey Wenzel. Per Rita's request there will be no calling hours; in lieu of flowers donations can be made to her beloved Orchard Covenant Church.  A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 3rd at 10:30 a.m. at the Orchard Covenant Church, 95 Berkshire Street (corner of Myrtle and Berkshire Street) Indian Orchard, Massachusetts.  There will be a brief interment service in the Veterans' Memorial Cemetery Chapel in Agawam on Monday, January 5th at 10:00 a.m. For further information please visit ratellfuneralhome.com. Ratell Funeral Home (413) 543-3836