Rita A. (Savastano) Bastinelli, 89, of Methuen died Tuesday at her residence surrounded by her loving family. Born in Brockton, Mass. she was the daughter of Pasquale and Mary F. (Allen) Savastano. A graduate of Lawrence High School Rita spent many wonderful years working and living in Lawrence before moving to Methuen in 1978. For many years Mrs. Bastinelli had been employed with A.B. Sutherlands Company located on Essex Street in Lawrence as a sales lady always smiling and greeting the customers there.
Rita's priorities in life were simple, simply because it was all about her family. She celebrated her cooking by sharing it with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom she adored and in life shared in all their successes.
Rita was the widow of Paul D. Bastinelli with whom she shared 41 years of marriage before his passing in 1982. Survivors include: daughter Joan M. and her husband John E. Cuddy of Methuen, and son Brian P. and his wife Sylvia Bastinelli also of Methuen, a sister Joan B. Coppola of Methuen, 7 grandchildren Sean, Patricia, Brian, Justin Kaitlin and Aiden, Greatgrandchildren Sarah, Evan,Laura, Jay, Abigail, Diane, Jarek, Jaiden, Jakob, and Jon, and a close cousin Elizabeth Schwall and godmother to Darlene Franco, and Russell P. Coppola. Rita was predeceased by her brother Harry F. Savastano, Daughter Mary P. Zamojski, and grandson Paul D. Zamojski.
A Mass of Christian burial will take place on Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock in Saint Patrick's Church in So. Lawrence with burial to follow in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Lawrence.
Friends will be warmly received on Monday from 2-4 & 7-9 PM at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home 233 Lawrence Street in Methuen.