Rita M. Prendergast

Waltham – Mrs. Rita M. (Greene) Prendergast, of Waltham, died Wednesday, January 16, 2013 in Newton-Wellesley Hospital. She was 92.

Rita was born in County Clare, Ireland, on June 11, 1920, a daughter of the late Thomas and Catherine (Cunningham) Greene. She immigrated to the United States following World War II and settled in Watertown where she lived before moving to Waltham more than thirty years ago.

Until her retirement she worked as a supervisor at the Walter E. Fernald School in Waltham. Rita was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1105 and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Pvt. Charles J. Shutt Detachment No. 139 of the Marine Corps League, both in Watertown. She will long be remembered as a very active member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 14, in Watertown. She was always at the ready to 'have a time' for those in need and held monthly suppers and bake sales to benefit Catholic Charities of Boston.

The wife of the late Martin R. Prendergast, she leaves her children, Thomas Prendergast and his wife, Diane of Belmont, James Prendergast and his wife, Jean of Braintree, Mary Mahan of Westford, Clare Greene and her husband, Michael, of Waltham, and Joan Prendergast of Chelmsford; her sister, Bridget Howley of County Clare, Ireland; her grandchildren, Lindsay Prendergast Doherty and her husband, Andrew, Tommy Prendergast, Nicole Reardon, Conor Reardon, Kyle Reardon, Matthew Mahan, Evan Mahan, Rachel Mahan, Courtney Greene, Caitlin Prendergast, Eden Prendergast and Martin Prendergast and many nieces and nephews.

Rita was also the mother of the late Martin R. Prendergast, Jr. and a sister of the late Mary McShane and Annie Cusack.

Family and friends will honor and remember Rita's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday, January 18th, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Jude Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.