Rita Therese Gosselin
LEWISTON – Rita Therese Gosselin of Lewiston passed away Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Montello Manor in Lewiston.
Born at home on Oct. 5, 1925, into a Franco-American family, the daughter of Napoleon and Alpha (Cote) Gosselin. Rita was the youngest of three. She was predeceased by her sister, Cecile (Gosselin) Hayman, and by her brother, Lionel, who died in infancy.
Rita was educated at St. Peter’s School, the Cours Superior, and graduated from Lewiston High School in 1944. She claimed French as her primary language, and was fluent in English as well.
Rita’s first job was at W.T. Grant’s in downtown Lewiston where she filled bags of boiled peanuts for sale, and worked her way up to office manager. She enjoyed working with numbers and was a bookkeeper for many years in the office of Bates Mill followed by other bookkeeping positions until retirement. She enjoyed her 33 years of retirement every single day.
She was a lifelong member of St. Peter’s and Paul’s Church and was strong in her faith. Rita enjoyed a long life and lived independently into her early nineties. Her love for music began early, and she appreciated all types with opera and big band as favorites. Some of her other interests included reading, traveling, tracing her genealogy, and watching fashions develop and change over time. She enjoyed a good circle of life-long friends, and had happy memories of the many trips, laughter, and shared stories.
Rita was a wonderful daughter, sister, and aunt. She is survived by nieces, Pamela Hayman, Marion Sampson, Linda Ouellette, and Linda Hayman as well as great and great-great nieces and nephews.
The family extends a sincere thank you to the professional staff at the Manor for their dedicated and loving care in Rita’s final days.
Funeral services honoring Rita’s life will be celebrated 11 a.m., Monday, Nov. 15, at Pinette Dillingham & Lynch Funeral Home, 305 Alfred Plourde Parkway, Lewiston. Committal prayers to follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery.
Visitation will begin at 9 a.m., until the time of services. Facemasks are recommended.
Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at http://www.lynchbrothers.com
Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Maine
383 US Route One #2C,
Scarborough, ME 04074
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