Rita Marie Fitzgerald

Rita was born at home on February 24, 1932 in the small village of St. Nicholas on Prince Edward Island, Canada to Stanley and Eva Poirier. She was one of six children. She attended school, walking miles uphill each way in the snow. Rita attended business college in Moncton, New Brunswick and then returned to the island, where she married Wilfred ‘Fred’ Fitzgerald. Together they had seven children, Judy (John Kulka), Mona, (late Tom Flaherty), John (Honey), Karen (late Rob Loomis), Norine (deceased), Lorna and Verna. Soon they immigrated to the United States and chose their home in the Boston area and had another daughter, Lisa (Paul Pike). Rita worked as an account clerk at John Hancock Insurance Company in Boston until her retirement in 1994. She then moved to Gunnison to escape the hustle and bustle of the busy city life. Rita had a hard time sitting still in retirement so she soon began working at Wal-Mart, where she became known around town as “Rita the Greeta.” She was always a friendly face around town and was often seen toting a little red Radio Flyer wagon full of her granddaughters Meaghan and Molly. Rita also volunteered in many classrooms at Gunnison Elementary School. Rita loved the peacefulness in Gunnison and lived here until 2014. She lived her last years in Wilmington, Mass. with her son John and wife Honey. She passed away on June 23 surrounded by her loving family and will be missed tremendously by many. She is survived by seven of her children, 13 of her 14 grandchildren and six (soon to be seven) great grandchildren. A small service will be held at Nichols Funeral Home in Wilmington, Mass. on Thursday, June 29 from 4–6 p.m. Memorial donations in Rita’s name may be made to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan Street, B-102, Danvers, MA 01923 or to our local Gunnison Hospice and Palliative Care, 509 W. Virginia Ave #2, Gunnison, CO 81230.