Rita R. Withrow

Rita Withrow will long be remembered for always sending a card to mark a special occasion or to pen a note to family or friends. It became her own hallmark tradition and in this day and age of technology and social media she preferred a personal touch. She was blessed at the end of her life to have the opportunity to tell each family member how much she loved them and offered her motherly advice to them as their lives continue. She died peacefully on Wednesday, July 19, 2017 in the Kaplan Family Hospice Residence in Danvers after a short illness. She was 87.

Born on July 9, 1930 in Chisholm, Maine she was a daughter of the late Wilfred and Nellie (Lacroix) Cormier. She was raised in Livermore Falls on a farm. A move to Waltham in 1942 would later introduce her to Robert E. Withrow. They married on January 18, 1953 in Saint Charles Borromeo Church. She attended St. Pierre's School and Saint Mary's High School.

She worked for over 27 years at the former well-known Moe Black's on Lexington Street where she was a familiar and friendly face and came to be known as 'Rita Refunds'. The consummate homemaker, caregiver and mother she was true to the words in every sense. She loved to knit and crotchet, country music and the Boston Red Sox and most of all visits from her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband of 64 years, Robert, she leaves their children, Steven G. Withrow and his wife, Paula of Falmouth, Robert E. Withrow Jr and his wife, Patricia of Dedham, Helen C. Antonellis and her husband, Kenneth of Hudson, Susan A. Bowers and her husband, Jonathan of Danvers, James P. Withrow and his wife, Deborah of Watertown and Warren M. Withrow and his wife, Karen of Waltham; her siblings, Alma Serval of Waltham, Eleanor Currier of Iowa and George Cormier of Tennessee; also survived by 18 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her siblings and the late Edward, Wilfred, and Norman Cormier, Christine Darling and Irene Orifice.

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 Monday July 24th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude's Children Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, Boston Children's Hospital, 401 Park Drive, Suite 602, Boston, MA 02215 or to Kaplan Family Hospice House, 78 Liberty St., Danvers, MA 01923.