Rita G. Spottiswoode, 87, of Londonderry, NH, died Wednesday, March 5, 2008 in the Parkland Medical Center, Derry, NH. Mrs. Spottiswoode was born in Boston, MA on September 6, 1920, a daughter of the late Frank and Alice (Kleynen) Lanouette. She was a resident of Londonderry for the past 10 years, formerly living in Middleton, MA. Rita graduated from Everett High School, Everett, MA. During WWII she served in the U.S. Navy WAVES. Her family settled in Middleton where she became very involved in the community, with girl scouts, cub scouts, and the American Legion Post#207, where she was the ladies auxiliary president. Rita was the first female bus driver for the rural bus line in Middleton, and had also been an operator for New England Telephone. She was a communicant of St. Jude Parish in Londonderry, a member of its women’s guild and an active participant in the St. Jude craft fair. She enjoyed knitting, sewing, baking and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
She is survived by two sons, John Spottiswoode of Kennebunkport, ME, Alan Spottiswoode of Reading, MA, a daughter, Dawn Myers and her husband Robert of Londonderry, five grandchildren, Lynsey Savage and her husband Will, Casey Jorgensen and her husband Kyle, Michelle Flowers and her husband Josh, David Myers and Stacey Myers. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, John Spottiswoode in 2001, her son, Christopher Spottiswoode and her brother, Paul Lanouette.
Visiting hours were held 2-6pm Sunday, March 9, 2008 in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 290 Mammoth Rd., Londonderry. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 10:00am on Monday, March 10th in St. Jude Parish, 435 Mammoth Rd., Londonderry. The burial followed in the Evergreen Cemetery, Kennebunk, ME. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Heart Assoc., Northeast Affiliate, 2 Wall St., Manchester, NH 03101 or to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Vermont-New Hampshire Affiliate, P.O. Box 2496, Manchester Center, VT 05255.