Rita Fleming Leary, longtime resident of North Andover, died peacefully on October 27, 2014. Born in Lawrence, MA, Rita graduated from St. Augustine’s and Lawrence High School. After a long and rewarding corporate career, she retired from AVCO/Textron Corporation. Rita was an avid traveler during her retirement and visited destinations all over the world, but had a special place in her heart for Paris, France. She was also the Boston Red Sox biggest fan and until recently was known for hopping a train or driving into the city and negotiate for a ticket to see the boys play. Rita was also known to play 45’s in local tournaments and knew the rules. Well, at least her rules.
Rita has been a parishioner over much of her life at St. Michael Parish in North Andover and participated in many of the ministries of the Parish.
Rita was the widow of John E. Leary of North Andover and the mother of the late Jacqueline Cotta, her beloved daughter. She is survived by her beloved friend Jean O’Brien of Portsmouth, NH and John’s children, Patricia-Lane Leary Richardson and her husband Dick Houghton, Michael and his wife Carol Leary, and Betsy and her husband Joseph Boulanger, along with nieces and nephews and, much to Rita’s delight, seven grandchildren and a growing contingent of great grandchildren. Rita made friends quickly and kept them always. She will be sadly missed but remembered forever.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Michael Church on Main Street in North Andover on Friday, October 31st, 2014 at 10:00 AM.
There will be no calling hours. Please make any donations to the St. Michael’s School Annual Fund, 80 Maple Avenue, North Andover, MA 01845. Arrangements are under the direction of the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., 35 Merrimack Street, No. Andover, Massachusetts. For online condolences and other information please visit us at www.breenfuneralhome.com.