Rita (Brabant) G. Fortier, A member of a well known Tewksbury Family died suddenly on Wednesday, February 17, 2021.
Rita was born in her parents house on Chandler street in Tewksbury on August 6, 1930 to Grace (Monbleau) and George Brabant. Rita was the wife of Richard E. Fortier whom passed away in 2011 after 59 Years of Marriage.
She graduated from Tewksbury High School in 1948, married her high school sweetheart in 1951 at St. William's Church. They returned to Tewksbury after her husband completed his tour of service in the Korean War. They returned home with there two boys and after a short time they built their home and business G & R Auto parts. Continued to raising there 7 children. Rita was busy raising her kids and joining clubs and organizations that took care of people, children and veterans. She even ran as the first woman for selectmen in Tewksbury. Her time was well spent. She was active in the DAV, Past President and Charter Life Member of the Tewksbury-Wilmington Emblem Club 381, Acacia Chapter #80 O.E.S. PM, Ladies Oriental Shrines of N.A., P.H.P.,Daughters of the Nile, Oppela Temple # 50 P.Q. Those organizations touched and supported people who didn’t know her and those who just called her Rita.
Rita sadly leaves her children, Richard G. Fortier and his wife, Diane from Barnstead, N.H., Michelle Fortier from St. Augustine, FL, Denise Spampinato and her husband, Manny from Laconia, N.H., Jacqueline Fortier and her significant other, James Davies from Salem, N.H., Janine Phillips from Alachua, FL, and Therese Fortier-Silva and her husband, John from Methuen, MA,. She was the grandmother of Natalie Fortier, Richard G. Fortier Jr., Robert A. Boyd Jr., Patricia Spampinato, Kathleen Vanhoose, Walter Fisher, James Penrose, John Silva Jr., Rita Silva, Katie and Kurt Esmel, Drs. Camille and Teddy McAvoy. Great Grandmother of William Fortier, Haley Bryan, Desember Penrose, Kimberlee Penrose, Riley Fisher, Claira VanHoose, Maggie Vanhoose, Phoebe Vanhoose, Isaiah Silva, Isbelle Fortier, Zeke, Zaya and Odin Esmel, and Vaughn McAvoy; Great Great grandmother of Emma Bryant; and Daughter in law Lydia Fortier of High Springs, ,FL, Sister-in-law of Pat & Tom Martin. She was also the aunt of many nieces, nephew and cousins especially, Gary & Denise Hawkes & Dee Cotter.
In addition to her husband Dick, she is predeceased by her son, George "Porky" Fortier, and she was the sister of the late, Claire & Elaine Hawkes, sister-in-law of the late, Jackie and Alan Raymond and she was the mother-in-law of the late, Robert Boyd Sr., and Richard J. Phillips.
She loved cooking and providing for others, in lieu of flowers, please make donations in her memory to Rosie's Place CLICK HERE FOR Rosie's Place
or to the Pine Street Inn CLICK HERE FOR the Pine Street Inn or your local food pantry.
DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, WHILE FOLLOWING SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES AND WEARING A MASK, ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND HER CALLING HOURS ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26 FROM 4 UNTIL 7. AT TEWKSBURY FUNERAL HOME, 1 DEWEY STREET, TEWKSBURY, MA 978-851-2061. HER FUNERAL WILL BEGIN ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27 AT 10 A.M. AT THE FUNERAL HOME, FOLLOWED BY HER FUNERAL MASS AT ST. WILLIAMS CHURCH, 1351 MAIN ST (RT38) TEWKSBURY, MA AT 11:30 A.M.. BURIAL WILL FOLLOW AT TEWKSBURY CEMETERY.