Rita Emma Luckey, 81, of Duxbury, died in her home on April 15, 2009 due to complications related to lymphoma. Rita was born in Gary, Indiana on March 23, 1928 to Frederick and Emma Matzdorf, both German immigrants who met in Gary. Her family maintained a strong link with relatives in Germany which Rita continued throughout her life.
She married Leo J. Luckey and had four children. As a Coast Guard family they frequently moved from coast to coast - California, Hawaii, Virginia - before finally settling down in Duxbury in 1962. In addition to raising children Rita found time to be a Girl Scout Troop leader, worked on the staff of the Duxbury Clipper, and retired after 21 years from the Duxbury Elementary School system as a principal’s secretary.
Rita always pursued her love of dance. As a small girl in Shirley Temple’s hey day it was tap, when stationed in Hawaii as a Coast Guard wife it was hula. She put her dance talents to good use in the annual Duxbury American Legion shows that were so popular in the 1960s and 70s. Even after stricken by cancer in 1999 Rita continued to organize and teach tap dance classes at the Duxbury Senior Center as late as the Fall of 2008.
She is survived by her husband Leo, her brother Frederick Matzdorf of Crown Point IN, her son Frederick Luckey of North Easton, NY and daughters Nancy Mannett of Grey ME, Sandra Connolly of Boise, ID and Patricia Moneyhun of Duxbury as well as seven grandchildren, one great grandchild and several cousins in Germany.
Funeral arrangements by the MacDonald Funeral Home, 1755 Ocean St., Marshfield, MA 02050. Viewing hours will be on Saturday April 18th, from 12 noon to 2:30 P.M. at the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 384 Court St. North Plymouth, followed by a service and reception beginning at 3:00 P.M. A private burial ceremony will be held at the Bourne National Cemetery .
In lieu of flowers donations should be made to the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Director of Development, Development Office, 165 Cambridge St., Suite 600, Boston, MA 02114-2792 or the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 384 Court St., Plymouth MA 02360.