Whitman – Rita (Dalton) McLellan 83, a longtime resident of Whitman, died Tuesday August 25 after a period of failing health. She was the wife of the late John V. McLellan for 39 years.
Born on Prince Edward Island, Canada she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Cecelia (Hughes) Dalton.
Rita grew up on Prince Edward Island, where she had attended a convent before her move to Boston at the age of sixteen.
For over 25 years, Rita had been a member of the housekeeping department of the West Elm Hotel of Brockton.
She loved to dance and was a devoted mother and grandmother and her greatest joy was cooking for her large family and spending time with her grandchildren.
She is survived by her children Thomas M. McLellan and his wife Jacqueline of Taunton, Deborah McLellan and her fiancé Richard McKeague of Rockland and Theresa Morse and her husband Roy of W. Wareham, her grandchildren Corie, Kelly, Justin, Tyler, McKenzie, and Molly and her great grandchild Ayden Oliver. She is also survived by her brother Chester Dalton and his wife Charlotte of N. Reading, her sisters Thelma Wooldridge, Evelyn Gill and Pauline Dalton, all of Canada and her sisters-in-law Marie Shea of Canada and Anne Conroy of W. Roxbury as well as numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sons Robert J., John E. and William J. McLellan and her siblings William, Ivan, Arnold, Emmett, Edward, Melvin, Frank and Lawrence Dalton and her brothers-in-law Larry Gill, Leith Wooldridge, John Conroy, and Father Tom and Sonny McLellan.
Her funeral service will be held Saturday August 29 at 10:15 AM from the Blanchard Funeral Chapel, Plymouth Street (Rte. 58 @ the rotary) Whitman, followed by a funeral Mass at 11:00 AM in the Holy Ghost Church, Whitman. Burial will follow in the St. James Cemetery, Whitman. Visiting hours will be held Friday August 28 from 4:00-8:00 PM.
Donations in her name may be made to the American Heart Association, Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241.