Rita Turner Obituary

Rita Kelly Turner 95, passed away peacefully in the presence of family at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, MA the morning of May 19th. Rita was born the youngest of eight children to William and Mary Anne (Simmonds) Kelly of Grand Falls, Newfoundland, Canada August 26th 1929. An outdoor child Rita enjoyed watching and playing ice hockey and tagging along with her father checking rabbit traps. A graduate of Notre Dame High School in Grand Falls, she furthered her education with a year of business school. Soon after she met Gerald Turner of Lewiston, Me, serving with the United States Air Force. They were married in 1951 in Grand Falls beginning a life of travel. In the ensuing years the air force took them from Maine to Florida, Texas, South Carolina and Cheyenne, Wyoming where Rita got her driver's license, took care of five children and was the neighborhood "Avon Lady". After the air force the family moved to Springfield, Massachusetts and Rita worked at Forbes and Wallace on Main Street until it closed. There was always time for a card game with the kids after homework was done and weekly canasta games with like-minded friends into "the wee hours." When the family moved to Agawam in 1967 Rita worked for Zayres and was the office manager for F.W. Woolworth for 30 years until retirement. Rita was a good bowler competing in the Womans Candlepin League in Agawam and was always up for a few strings with family and friends. In her 70s Rita took up x-country skiing and snowshoeing with Jerry following their retirement to Canaan, Maine. Her later years were spent with family in Enfield, Connecticut. Rita's life can be characterized by the phrase "faith and family". She was a devout Catholic and the Church's principles guided her throughout a hectic life and troubling times. She was a member of St. Bernard's Church of Enfield. She was predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Gerald L. Turner and siblings: Jack, Doug, Mell, Bridget, Loretta, Monica and Ruth and her daughter-in-law, Sue A. Turner. She is survived by her son Douglas of New Salem, Massachusetts, daughters Deborrah and husband Robert Perkins of Enfield, Cynthia and husband Robert Goldrick of Springfield, MA, sons Gerald, Jr. and wife Angie of Ft. Pierce, Florida and Richard (Nick Zentor) of West Springfield, MA. Also, grandchildren Jodie Dickson of Springfield, Kelly Diaz of Ware, MA, Melissa Goldrick of Springfield, MA, Michelle Srebnick of Longmeadow, MA, Robert Goldrick of Palmer, MA, Robbie Vivenzio of Mt. Vernon, ME, Gina O'Leary of Franklin, New Hampshire, Jessica Fellows of Townsend, MA and Nathan Turner of Leesburg, Fl. Included are 26 great grandchildren and eight great, great grandchildren. A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, May 24th at 11 AM, at St. Bernards Church, 426 Hazard Avenue in Enfield. Burial will take place at Augusta Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta, ME at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Little Sisters of the Poor, 1365 Enfield St. Enfield, Connecticut and the Springfield Pregnancy Care Center 704 Sumner Ave., Springfield, MA.