BIDDEFORD — Rita Milliken, 80, of Biddeford died Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 at St. Andre’s Health Care following a long illness.

She was born June 26, 1938 in Biddeford a daughter of Rudolph and Lucienne (Marcotte) Payheur and was educated at St. Andre’s School.

On June 24, 1967, she married Robert Milliken in St. Andre’s Church.

As a young woman, she had worked in a Saco Shoe Shop and also worked in her mother’s greenhouse, leaving the workforce to care for her children.

Rita had a love of dogs, classical music and opera. She was known for her sense of humor and her wit.

She is survived by Robert Milliken, her husband of 51 years, of Biddeford; a son, Russell Milliken, his wife Maria and their children Matthew and Alexander, of Eighty Four, Pennsylvania; a daughter, Laura Milliken of Weymouth, Massachusetts; a brother, Robert Payheur and his wife Rita of Biddeford; two sisters, Irene Morris of North Berwick and             Claire Mondville and her husband Albert of Waterboro and several nieces and nephews.

Visiting Hours will 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 at Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm St., Biddeford, ME 04005. A funeral service will be held on Friday at noon in the funeral home. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Biddeford.

To share condolences online, please visit www.HopeMemorial.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Rita’s memory may be made to:  The Animal Welfare Society, P.O. Box 43, West Kennebunk, ME  04094 or online at www.animalwelfaresociety.org.