OBITUARY: Rita (Despres) Babineau, 93

WILMINGTON, MA — Rita (Despres) Babineau, age 93, a long-time resident of Wilmington, MA, passed away peacefully on June 18, 2023.

Rita was born in Cocagne, New Brunswick, Canada, on May 30, 1930; this is where she was also raised and educated. Rita was the dear daughter of the late Prospere and Emma (Gallant) Despres. As a young lady, Rita attended a dance in Moncton, New Brunswick and where she met the “love of her life” Alderic “Al” Babineau. Rita and Al married in 1947; made their home in Moncton and started their family as they welcomed their first child Norman, then Phyllis, Theresa, Reginald and Thomas. In 1964, the couple along with their children moved to Wilmington, Massachusetts.

Rita always made her family her priority; she looked forward to “good family time” which included big family dinners and having her table full with family and friends. She was an excellent cook who made all her meals from scratch, she was a talented quilter who made beautiful quilted blankets for family members, and she loved to decorate her home for all the holidays. Rita loved to take family trips back to Canada to visit relatives and friends and catch up on old times. Rita always showered her family with unconditional love and support.

Rita was a hard worker throughout her life; she worked in the electronics department at Compugraphic and the AGFA Companies in Wilmington for many years.

In her spare time, Rita enjoyed working in her yard and tending to her flower gardens, she liked listening to all types of music; especially bluegrass, she loved to go dancing, and she had a nice circle of friends who she enjoyed going to dinner with.

Rita will be fondly remembered as a nice lady, she had a great sense of humor, a quick wit, and beautiful smile. Rita loved her family and friends with all her heart and she will be greatly missed.

Rita was the beloved wife of the late Alderic Babineau, devoted mother of Norman Babineau of Ajax, Ontario, Canada, Phyllis Brown and her late husband Steve of Chichester, NH, the late Theresa “Terry” Ulm, Reginald Babineau of Wilmington, MA, and Thomas Babineau and his wife Claire of Tewksbury, MA. She was the loving “Nana” to Stephen Brown, Jr., Joey Babineau, Brian Babineau, Melissa Ulm, Tom Ulm, Duran McNeil, and as well as her great-grandchildren. Rita was the dear sister of Louise Dunn of Bolton, Ontario, Canada, and Romeo LeBlanc of Dorchester Crossing, NB, Canada.

Family and friends will gather for Visitation on Tuesday, June 27th at the Nichols Funeral Home, 187 Middlesex Ave. (Rte. 62), Wilmington, MA, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon followed by a Funeral Service at 12:00 noon. Interment will take place in Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington, MA.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Rita’s memory may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit our website at www.nicholsfuneralhome.com.