H. Rita (O’Brien)(Canto-Blair) Brousseau
…Former District President of Golden Age Club
TEWKSBURY – Helen Rita (O’Brien) (Canto – Blair) Brousseau, age 93, died Thursday, September 6, at Wingate of Belvidere in Lowell. She was the beloved wife of the late, Raymond Brousseau, the late, Henry Bair, and the late, Edward Canto. She was born October 10, 1918, and raised in Cambridge, a daughter of the late, Joseph and Rose V. (Friel) O’Brien. She moved to Wilmington in 1968 and had resided in Tewksbury since 1969.
In her earlier years, she worked as a Nurse Aide at Casa Grande, now known as Blaire House of Tewksbury. She also led an extremely active social life and had been a president of the Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 8164 and past district president for the VFW district, as well as a singer with the Sweet Adelines. She was also a former President and Chaplain of the Tewksbury Golden Age Club, a former advisor to the Mellowtone Glee Club, recognized by the Bedford VA, a former driver for Meals-on-Wheels. She was an avid bingo player and Bingo Caller at the Tewksbury Senior Center for seventeen plus years.
She is survived by six of her eight children and their spouses: Phyllis and Kenneth Cicero of Lowell, Wayne and Janet (Ray) Canto of Dorchester, John and Ellie (McCarthy) Canto of Florida, Dennis and Donna (Mederios) Blair of Florida, June and Joseph Gallant of Tewksbury, Joseph and Laura (Breen) Blair of Haverhill; a step-daughter, Marianne (Brousseau) Burley of Lowell; a sister, Patricia Sully of North Reading, thirty grandchildren, thirty-one great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.
She was the mother of the late, Rosemarie (Canto) Smith, and Edmund Canto and also a sister of the late, Joseph O’Brien, John O’Brien, William O’Brien, Alice O’Brien, Frances Stark, Lawrence O’Brien, and Rose Horner.
Her family wishes to offer their thanks and appreciation for the loving care shown to H. Rita Brousseau during her stay at Wingate of Belvidere.
Her Funeral Mass was Wednesday, September 12 at St. William Church 1351 Main St., Tewksbury. Her burial followed at Tewksbury Cemetery. Memorial donations to the Tewksbury Friends of the Elderly, ATTN: Linda Braybant, 175 Chandler St., Tewksbury, MA 01876, are appreciated.