Obituary for Rita L. (Lemieux) Risley
Rita L. (Lemieux) Risley, 80, of North Windham, CT, beloved wife of John N. Risley III, passed away on May 4, 2014 at the Saint Joseph Living Center in Willimantic, CT. She was born October 28, 1933, in Willimantic, CT, daughter of Joseph and Yvonne (Briere) Lemieux. A 1951 graduate of Windham High School, she earned a B.S. degree in Spanish from Eastern Connecticut State University where she also worked many years as an Administrative Assistant for the dean of Arts and Sciences. She was an active member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), serving in an active leadership role.
She was a communicant of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, where she served as a Eucharistic Minister. She was also an active Trustee of the church and long time member of the St. Mary’s Guild and served on the St. Mary’s - St. Joseph School Board. She was a very active, committed and devoted member of the St. Mary’s Church community.
Rita (“Reet”) will be best remembered for her wonderful sense of humor, love for traveling, summer vacations in Wells Beach, ME, and memorable times spent with her 26 grandchildren and one great-grandchild, all of whom gave her a great deal of joy and love. She was the beloved mom of four children and five stepchildren and their spouses/significant others, Jan and Pat Murphy, Joan and Brian Pinney, Robert and Nancy Millerd, Kenneth Millerd and Tammy Sullivan, Christopher J. Risley and Dona Bartlett, Donald T. Risley and Janine Cooley, Sean and Mary Risley, Patrick and Amanda Risley, and Tara Risley and Rafael Calixto. She also leaves behind her aunt Esther Briere, and sisters-in-law Gladys Lemieux, Corinne Millerd, Donna Whelan and Denise Risley, along with several cousins, many beloved nieces and nephews and countless meaningful friends.
Family and friends may call at the Bacon Funeral Home, 71 Prospect Street, Willimantic, CT on Thursday from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Joseph’s Church, 99 Jackson Street, Willimantic, CT on Friday, May 9, 2014 at 11:00 AM followed by burial at Saint Joseph’s Cemetery, Club Road, North Windham, CT. Family and friends are asked to meet directly at the church. Those wishing, may make memorial donations to Saint Mary’s Church Renovation Fund, 80 Maple Avenue, Willimantic, CT 06226.
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