Thompson, CT – Rita L. (Paris) King, 82, passed away peacefully in the arms of her daughter Brenda and surrounded by family on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at home in Thompson, CT. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 47 years, Richard N. “Dick” King who passed away in 2013.
She leaves 2 daughters, Ronda L. Degnan and her husband Paul of Palm Bay, FL, and Brenda M. Cacciapouti and her husband William A of Thompson. with whom she lived; 4 granddaughters, Brandi Escobar and her wife Solis, Morgan Jezierski and her husband Michael, Hailey Cacciapouti, and Sabrina Pearson and her husband Colby; 4 great-grandchildren, Kinsley
Pearson, Ezra Escobar, Tatyana Tarpley and Natalia Tarpley; 2 sisters, Gloria Drouin of Manchester, NH and Theresa Ahern of Goffstown, NH.
Rita was born on December 29, 1942 in Manchester, NH a daughter of Wilfrid and Marie J. (Jutras) Paris. She was a 1961 graduate of Manchester High School Central and went on to the Houle Beauty Academy of Manchester, NH for hairdressing. Her family also owned a cottage on Baboosic Lake in Merrimack, NH where they would spend their summers with a large extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins who she was very fond of. She was working as a hairdresser when she met her husband, Dick, at a local roller skating rink when she asked him to skate on “ladies choice.” Dick was stationed at a nearby base in the Air Force. They married and moved to California, where he was then stationed, and had their 1st daughter, Ronda the following year. They moved back to Manchester after Dick’s service and then purchased their first home in Merrimack, NH where they had their second daughter, Brenda. Dick’s work brought the family to Dudley MA where they raised their family and resided until after retirement. They moved to the Willows in Worcester in 2011 and enjoyed making many new friends and participating in the activities in the 55 year old and up community. In early 2022, Rita moved in with her daughter
Brenda and family to be closer.
Rita’s main focus was as a homemaker and raising her daughters. She worked part time in the Shepherd Hill cafeteria for many years to share the same schedule as her daughters. Her daughters have many fond memories of summer adventures to local lakes and beaches and camping adventures as a family. She instilled a strong foundation of faith in her daughters and
the importance of family. She was later known as Mémé, not only to her granddaughters but affectionately by many of their friends. She will be fondly remembered by her family and many others for her sweetness, sense of humor and laughter.
She was a member of Saint Louis Church in Webster, MA where she looked forward to her weekly hug from Father Javier. She loved crafts and enjoyed floral design and making wreaths and discovered at the Willows her talent and love of pottery. She and her husband were avid campers and loved nature and being near any body of water. Her greatest joy was the time she
spent with her family.
A memorial Mass will be held on Friday, July 11, at 11:00 AM in Saint Louis Church, 14 Lake Street, Webster, MA (please meet at church). Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours. The family requests that donations in her memory be made to TEEG (Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group, Inc.), P.O. Box 664, 15 Thatcher Road, North Grosvenordale, CT 06255. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Sitkowski, Malboeuf & Hickey Funeral Home, 340 School Street, Webster, MA