She was educated in St. Agatha schools. As a young adult, Rita left the “County”, met and married James Arthur Stoodley in Skowhegan on July 3, 1941. He was killed in action during the battle of Iwo Jima on March 21, 1945. After returning to northern Maine, she married Albert Joseph Guerrette and settled in Madawaska, ME to raise their three girls, Gayle and twin daughters, Patsy and Nancy. Bert died on December 13, 1982, after which time she moved in with her daughter Patsy and her husband Marcel Cyr where she made her home for 29 years.
Rita was full of life. She loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Besides the love of her family she was a die-hard BEANO player, attracting many friends to play with as she was considered very lucky.
Rita was predeceased by her two husbands and all of her siblings.
Survivors include three daughters, Gayle Nisbet of Seattle, WA, Nancy and her husband Doug Gladsjo of Redmond, WA, Patsy and her husband Marcel Cyr of Brunswick. She was blessed with four grandchildren, Ryan and his wife Maria Cyr of Glensville, NY, Lisa Cyr and her fiancé Garret Murray of Portland, ME, Army S.P.C. Jesse Heels stationed in Afghanistan and his wife Chrissy of Tennessee, and Elise Johnson of Redmond, WA. She also received the gift of three great grandchildren, Brayden, Addison and Landon Cyr of New York.
Visiting hours will be held from 4-7PM on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal Street, Brunswick. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00AM on Thursday, January 31, 2013 in St. John the Baptist Church, Pleasant Street, Brunswick with Reverend Normand Carpentier as celebrant. Spring interment will be in Maine Veterans Cemetery, Augusta.
To share a message of condolence or to view a video tribute of Rita’s life, please visit www.brackettfuneralhome.com.
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