Rita (Bertrand) St. Laurent

April 6, 1925 - July 6, 2020

 

On July 6, Rita (Bertrand) St. Laurent joined her husband, of 73 years, in heaven. (Maurice passed away May 2.)

Born in New Bedford, Rita was the daughter of the late Antoine and Emelia (Pelletier) Bertrand. She attended New Bedford Vocational Technical High School. At the age of 16, she joined the Franco-American Drill Team where she got to show off her baton twirling talents. She left that team as their captain. She worked at the Aerovox in Acushnet where, during WWII, she made gas masks to support our troops. She worked for 23 years at a famous morning gathering spot, Ma's Donuts. A job she very much enjoyed.

Rita was an expert seamstress. She also loved knitting, especially making baby sweaters. She spent many years, with her husband and a few friends, making crafts for local church fairs. She was very involved in her church. She loved singing and was a member of the choir at Our Lady of Fatima, in New Bedford, then at St. John Neumann, after moving to East Freetown.

Rita had a green thumb and could grow pretty much anything. She was a talented baker and made the best pies around.

In her later years she become an avid sports fan, never missing a Celtics, Red Sox or Patriots game. She also enjoyed watching golf and women’s soccer and basketball. There wasn't a player she didn’t know nor a rule of play she couldn’t recite. It made the time pass as she developed physical difficulties that prohibited her from doing all those things that had brought her so much joy.

She was a gentle lady with a fierce loyalty to family and friends. That family and those friends were a source of great joy, comfort and support as she continued to decline. For that support, her children will be eternally grateful.

She is survived by her daughter Rachelle Meredith and her husband Michael of Lynn, her son Marc St Laurent and his wife Deborah of East Freetown, her 5 beloved grandchildren and her 13 great-grandchildren.

Besides her parents, Rita was pre-deceased by her brothers; Roger, Roland, Robert, Raymond, Tony and Louis. She is survived by her sisters; Therese Gauthier, Sr. Lucille Bertrand and Pauline Clark, as well as, many nieces, nephews and beloved sisters-in-law.

A service celebrating Rita and Maurice's lives will take place at a later time when it is safe for all to join together.