Rita (Doherty) Coughlan, a resident of Lynnfield and a former lifelong resident of Charlestown, entered into eternal life on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. She was 97 years of age.
Rita was born at her family home in Charlestown on March 11, 1928, a daughter of Donegal, Ireland immigrants, Bernard Doherty and Rose (Gibbons) Doherty. She grew up in Charlestown where she was educated at St. Mary's Parochial School and graduated from Girls High School in Boston. Rita worked as a Secretary to the Chief Pharmacist at Boston City Hospital for over 20 years. In her spare time, she enjoyed traveling to Bermuda and Aruba with family and friends and was always on the go to shop in downtown Boston. Her faith to the catholic church was paramount in her life and her love and dedication to her sisters and her many nieces and nephews was insurmountable.
Rita is the beloved wife of the late William J. "Bill" Coughlan. She is the devoted sister of Cecilia Doherty, Rosemary Swanson and her husband Dick and the late Sarah Loonie, John Doherty, Bernard Doherty, Thomas Doherty, Catherine Donovan and Patrick Doherty. She is the loving second Mom to Sean Reilly. She is the loving aunt to her 23 nieces and nephews and her many grandnieces and grandnephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Rita's visiting hours on Friday morning, December 19, 2025, from 9:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. in The Carr Funeral Home, 220 Bunker Hill St. Charlestown followed by her Funeral Mass in St. Mary's Church, 55 Warren St. Charlestown at 12 Noon. Her burial will take place at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett.
In lieu of flowers, kindly make a memorial donation in Rita's name to:
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, Tennessee 38105-9959
Click Here to Donate Online