Rita Claire Fortier

SOUTH PORTLAND – Rita Claire Fortier, 99, of South Portland, passed away peacefully Feb. 1, 2023, at the Gosnell house in Scarborough.

She was born in Jackman on May 31, 1923, the daughter of Alphonse and Alice Poulin. She grew up in Jackman and graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Jackman.

Following high school she worked as a waitress in her family’s restaurant where she met her future husband. They were married in Jackman in 1946 at Saint Anthony’s church. She and Ted operated a business called Lakeside cabins and Motels for many years.

Rita loved the outdoors and many outdoor sports including boating, snowmobiling, tobogganing, and skiing, in the summer months she loved to swim. While in Jackman she was a member of Saint Anthony’s Parish and the VFW ladies Auxiliary for over 76 years, She was a true American Patriot.

In 1969, they moved to South Portland where she worked at Porteous for many years and retired from there. She had a lot of friends from employees to customers. She joined the South Portland pool so she could swim daily which lasted till she was around 90 years old. Rita loved the water and the friends that she enjoyed seeing every day. She loved family gatherings large and small especially the trips to her son’s camp on Moosehead lake and the rides on his pontoon boat for daily sightseeing adventures. Above all she loved time with her family. If asked, she would have said her greatest accomplishment was her five children, 10 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.

Everyone that met Rita knew that she had a great sense of humor and loving spirit. Daily mass at Holy Cross Church was a testament of her deep faith in God and was a great example to her family. Rita was also and most importantly a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. We were blessed to have her with us for so long.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Deanna Hight, Kim Phillips, staff at Maine Medical Center and The Gosnell house for the wonderful and compassionate care given to Rita in her final days.

Rita was predeceased by her husband, Ted; her son Raymond; her brother Henry Duquette, and sisters, Lucia Nadeau and Anita Owens.

Rita is survived by her children, Claudette Deroche and her husband Ben of Westbrook, Collette Conley and her husband Pete of South Portland, Claire Ellis and her husband Bruce of Jackman and her son Mark of South Portland, her daughter-in-law Shirley Fortier; brothers, Lawrence Duquette of Jackman and Lionel Duquette of Winslow.

Visiting hours will be Sunday Feb. 12 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Conroy Tully Walker Funeral Home, South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland ME.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church on Monday Feb. 13 at 11 a.m. Burial will be in the spring.

To view Rita’s memorial page or share an on-line condolence, please visit http://www. ConroyTullytWalker.com.

Memorial donations may be made in Rita’s name to:

Jackman VFW ladies’ Auxiliary Chapter 5723

Attn: Lori Poulin,

Treasurer

PO Box 235

Jackman, ME 04945