Rita (Macdonald) Byrne, 94, of Tewksbury, passed away peacefully on Thursday May 5, 2022.
Rita was born on June 24, 1927 in Lynn, MA, the daughter of Marguerita (McSweeney) Macdonald and Arthur W. Macdonald.
She grew up in Lynn, MA and graduated from St. Chretienne Academy in Salem, MA.
She loved to tell stories about her life in Lynn and the hours spent on the beach near her family home where she met the love of her life, her husband, the late Thomas L. (Pederzani) Byrne. Together they had four children: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Dwyn.
For many years Rita worked as a telephone operator for the New England Telephone Company to help support her family.
Eventually the family relocated to Tewksbury, MA, where the children attended school and Rita continued her work as a telephone operator with Avco Corporation.
Rita is survived by her son Matthew Byrne and his wife Beth, grandson Jonathan and his wife Heather, and great-grandchildren Jackson and Rachel; her daughter Dwyn Dubinski and her husband Kenneth, grandchildren Erin, Tommi and her partner Renee, Joe and his fiance Ali; and her daughter-in-law Lannie, wife of the late Mark Byrne.
She also leaves behind many beloved nieces, nephews, and their families who filled her life with joy.
Rita joins her beloved husband Thomas, sons Mark and Luke, as well as her predeceased siblings: Arthur, Barry, Bunty, Donny, Dwyn, and Maureen.
Calling hours are Monday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee St., Tewksbury, followed by a service to be held at the funeral home and interment at Tewksbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory to the Mass. State Police Museum & Learning Center at www.mspmlc.org are suggested.