ASHEVILLE, NC - Rita E. (St. Pierre) Curran-Lambert, 94, of Asheville and a former resident of Springfield, West Springfield and Wilbraham, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, May 3, 2012 surrounded by the care and comfort of her loving family. She was born in Springfield on November 22, 1917, a beloved daughter of the late George St. Pierre, Sr. and Marie (Seguin) St. Pierre, the founders of the George St. Pierre and Son Funeral Home on State Street in Springfield. She was raised in Springfield, graduated from Cathedral High School and attended The College of New Rochelle in New Rochelle, NY. While living in Springfield, Rita was employed for over 25 years by the Diocese of Springfield for the Catholic Observer Newspaper, first as the circulation manager and lastly as the assistant editor before retiring in 1976. Following her retirement, she and her late husband, William Curran, moved to Bradenton, Florida. For the past eight years, Rita has been a resident of Asheville, North Carolina. She was an avid bridge player and a member of the New Friends, the Bridge Marathon and the Friday Senior Bridge Club at the Harvest House. While living in Springfield, she was a communicant of the former Saint Joseph Church and a communicant of Saint Catherine of Siena Church. Proud of her French Canadian Heritage, she was a longtime member of Le Cercle des Dames Francaises in Springfield. She was currently a communicant of Saint Lawrence Basilica in Asheville. She was predeceased by her parents and her husbands, William E. Curran, who passed away in 1986 and Albert Lambert, who passed away in 2000. She is survived by two sons and their families, Dr. Ronald G. Curran and his life partner, David Henderson, of Fairview, NC and Allan F. Curran and his wife, Deborah, of Springfield; her grandchildren, Jennifer, Matthew, Jeffrey and Kimberly; her great grandchildren, Isabelle, Jake and Cameron; her brother, George St. Pierre, Jr. and his wife, Virginia, of Fort Pierce, FL; and many dear nephews and nieces. Her relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at 10 a.m. in Saint Catherine of Siena Church, 1023 Parker Street, Springfield, MA 01129. Her burial will follow the Mass at Saint Michael Cemetery, 1601 State Street, Springfield, MA 01109. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to WNCAP's "Curran House to Home Fund", PO Box 2411, Asheville, NC 28802. There are no visiting hours at St. Pierre - Phaneuf Springfield Chapels, (413-737-1177), 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107. For our online obituary and guest book, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com