Rita M. DeMuth, née Guilmette, recently of Bethel, Maine, passed away on October 22, after a brief illness. She lived a healthful and productive life for 90 years.
Rita was born on June 16, 1925, in Lawrence, Mass. She was the oldest of five girls, born to Eugene J. Guilmette, M.D., a prominent physician in town, and Anna M. Dufour. She attended St. Anne’s High School in Lawrence, before going on to complete a degree in business at Burdett College in Boston. After graduating college, Rita worked for American Mutual Insurance Company in Lawrence. Invited to speak at an American Legion dinner in town, she met Henry J. DeMuth, who was attending the presentation and had recently returned from serving in the Marine Corps. Rita and “Hank” were soon a couple and married in 1945.
Hank was very proud of the house he “built with my own hands” for Rita and the five children.
The house was on Gorham Street in South Lawrence, in the parish of Sacred Heart, where the children also attended school.
Rita was a devoted stay-at-home mom while the children were young, and later worked alongside Hank at Stonehaven Market, a grocery store they owned in Methuen, Mass. After the market was sold, Rita returned to her insurance underwriting for the McCarthy Insurance Agencies in Lawrence and in Wilmington, Mass., working for the company for many years until her retirement.
Rita is survived by her daughters, Anne Hopper Green and Christine Jacoby; by her son, Peter John DeMuth; and four grandchildren, David Gagnon, Peter Charles DeMuth, and Ben and Joanna Jacoby. She is also survived by her sisters, Marcelline McCormick and Marie Martha St. Laurent.
Rita will be remembered by everyone who knew her as a lovely and generous person, who always wore a smile and had a positive attitude. People knew they were welcome in her house for a song at the piano and at her table for the best darn apple pie you ever had.
We will all miss you, Rita.
A memorial service for Rita is being planned by her family and details will be available at http://www.chandlerfunerals.com.
(NOTE: The above obituary and photo are from Chandler Funeral Homes and Cremation Services.)
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