Rita Lucienne (Lambert) Hemond, 90, passed away peacefully in her sleep at Carolina Caring Hospice House on Wednesday August 5, 2026. She was the wife of the late Roger Maurice Hemond. They were married in 1959 and shared over 52 years together until his passing in 2011.
Rita was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts on May 12, 1936. She was a daughter of the late Romeo and Arthurette (Payeur) Lambert, both natives of Quebec, Canada. She was raised in Woonsocket and attended St. Clare Girls High School in Woonsocket.
In 1968 the family relocated to Baldwin Park, California and in 1982 they moved to Lancaster, California. Rita worked as a housekeeper cleaning homes for a number of physicians, lawyers and judges.
Rita was very involved with her special gift of music. She played a variety of instruments and taught piano, organ, guitar and her favorite the accordion. Rita operated the Hemond Music Studio from 1985 until 2011. She also taught Spanish and French in the early 1990s at Antelope Valley Christian High School in Quartz Hill, California.
In 2012 Rita relocated to Hickory, North Carolina to be closer to her two youngest sons. Rita was raised in a Catholic family and later in life became a born-again Christian and later join the 7th day Adventists.
Rita is survived by her sons Luke, John, Marc and Matthew. She was the mother of the late Charles Hemond who passed way in California in 1976. She is also survived by her sister Gertrude “Trudy” (Lambert) Rheaume Lamoureux and Eugene Lambert and was the sister of the late Emile and Daniel Lambert and Jeannette (Lambert) Leblanc. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and their families.
Rita was deeply loved and will be immensely missed by many people.
Services for Rita were held in North Carolina.
Local arrangements are in care of the Menard-Lacouture Funeral Home, 127 Carrington Ave. Woonsocket.
www.menardfuneralhome.com