MURPHY, Rita J. (McCarthy) 91, of Natick formerly of Newton died peacefully on Wednesday, September 20, 2017, following a period of declining health.
She was born in Charlottetown, PEI, Canada, on October 24, 1925, the daughter of the late Augustine McCarthy and Alice (Gallant) McCarthy.
She is survived by her children Jeannine Psathas and her husband Anthony Psathas of Natick, John "Jack" Murphy and his husband Richard DiCola of Palm Springs, CA, and Michelle Gately of Newton. She is also survived by four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and two nieces. She was the wife of the late John J. Murphy who died in 1995.
Rita moved to the United States from Prince Edward Island in 1947 after marrying her husband John of Cambridge. She worked for a while at the Food Fair grocery store on Harvard Avenue in Allston, delighting all who stopped by the floral and tobacco counter before beginning a long and successful career in the hospitality industry. She began as a hostess in the dining room of the old Boston Statler Hotel before moving to the then newly built Sheraton Boston Hotel. She was the manager of the Persian Lounge and later the Riviera dining room. Rita was so successful as a manager at the Sheraton Boston that Marriott took an interest in her and wooed her in 1974 to their first property in the Boston area, the Newton Marriott. That was the beginning of a storied thirty-two-year-plus career with Marriott Hotels. In addition to the Newton Marriott, Rita also worked at the Marriott Long Wharf and the Cambridge Marriott in Kendall Square where she wrapped up her career as a concierge at the age of 82. Rita also worked on many Marriott task forces traveling the country to train new personnel at new Marriott properties. As important as her career with Marriott was, Rita was devoted to and derived much pleasure from working with her parish, Our Lady Help of Christians, in Newton as an usher and a greeter.
Relatives and friends are respectfully welcome to the visiting hours to be held on Tuesday, September 26, 2017, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at the John C. Bryant Funeral Home, 56 Pemberton Road (Off Rte. 30), Wayland.
Family and friends may gather at the funeral home on Wednesday, September 27, 2017, at 9:15 am followed by her Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 at Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, 573 Washington Street, Newton.
Interment will follow in Saint Mary's Cemetery, 57 Oakland St., Needham.