Rita G. McLaughlin, age 92, of Haverhill passed away Wednesday, November 23 at the Wingate at Haverhill Rehabilitation Center in Haverhill after a brief illness surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Lawrence on December 30, 1923 she was the daughter of the late George and Gertrude (Fallon) Fairburn.
Mrs. McLaughlin was raised in Lawrence and was a graduate of Lawrence High School. She had been a member of St. Patrick Church in Lawrence and was part of the Ladies Sodality. Mrs. McLaughlin had made her home in Haverhill with her daughter Mary Jane for the past six years.
She was the beloved wife of the late Walter J. McLaughlin. She was the loving mother of Walter J. McLaughlin, Jr of Lawrence, Mary Jane Herbert of Haverhill, Geraldine Maloney of Yarmouthport, Stephen M. McLaughlin and his wife Karen of Hudson, Gail Cassidy and her husband Henry of West Yarmouth, and Frances A. McLaughlin and her husband Dr. Bradley Libenson of Barnstad, NH. She was the sister of the late Gertrude Walsh, George Fairburn and Claire Crompton. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Jillian, Christopher, Erin, Daniel, Sean, Matthew, Megan, Caitlin, Timothy, Ryan, Fallon, Andrew, Ciera, Arianna, Jonathan, and Gabriela; as well as two great-grandchildren: Miguel and Julian.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Patrick Church, 118 S. Broadway, Lawrence on Tuesday at 11am. Interment to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in No. Andover. A visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, 233 Lawrence St, Methuen prior to the Funeral Mass, beginning at 9am.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Wingate at Haverhill for their care. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Merrimack Valley Hospice, 360 Merrimack St., Building #9, Lawrence, MA 01843.