Belmont- Rita Mae DeRoy, 82, of Dutile Road died Thursday morning, May 31st, 2007 at her home. Born in Laconia on May 6, 1925 she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Ida (Labrecque) Decelles and had been a resident of Belmont most of her life.
Rita was widowed at the age of 38 by her late husband, Alfred W. DeRoy. The young mother of five children, she lovingly dedicated herself to the care and upbringing of them. She continued her loving legacy as a devoted Mother, Meme and Great-Meme.
She attended Sacred Heart School. When she lost her husband in 1962, she became the office manager at Barton’s Motel where she loyally worked for 45 years. She was a member of the Dames De Sainte-Anne. She was also an avid bird watcher.
Rita was predeceased by two of her children; a son, Raymond A. DeRoy in 1971; a daughter, Denise C. Atherton in 1995; and several of her brothers and sisters.
Rita is survived by three daughters; Elaine S. Sottak, Cynthia M. DeRoy and Claudette E. Blanchette and her husband Paul all of Belmont; a daughter-in-law Nora L. (DeRoy) Charland of Laconia; fifteen grandchildren: SSG Christopher Sottak, Michelle (Sottak) Contigiani, Brett Sottak, Jennifer (Sottak) Gagnon, Timothy Sottak, Scott and Stephanie Atherton, Tracey (Pike) LeClair, William Pike, Kimberlee (Atherton) Demers, Karen (Atherton) Stone, Audra and Michael Blanchette, Eric and Craig Charland; twenty-one great-grandchildren; and a sister, Dorothy Stevens of Laconia as well as many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday June 5th, 2007 at St. Joseph Parish, 96 Main Street, Belmont at 10:00 a.m. Burial followed in the family lot at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Garfield Street, Laconia. Visiting hours were on Monday, June 4th, 2007 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Simoneau-Paquette Memorial Home, 139 Church Street, Laconia. Family and friends were invited to attend.
For those who wish, the family suggests expressions of sympathy in Rita’s name may be made to the American Heart Association, New England Affiliate, 20 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701-4688, or to the American Diabetes Association, New England Region, 249 Canal Street, Manchester, NH 03101.