Rita Rose Cyr

WASHINGTON - Rita Rose "Little Rita" Cyr, 91, of Washington and more recently of Mansfield
Place in Essex passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 12, 2015, at Vermont Respite House in
Williston surrounded with love by her family.
Rita was born on February 8, 1924 in Lewiston, Maine, the daughter of Napoleon and Alice
(Sevigny) Carrier. After the death of her mother, she was raised by her father and stepmother,
Lydia. Rita attended Holy Ghost School in Graniteville and graduated from Spaulding High School
in Barre in the Class of 1942.
On October 16, 1943, Rita married Joseph Armand Cyr in New Britain, CT where they lived from
1942-1949. They then moved to and purchased a farm in Washington, VT where they lived for 65
years. She worked side-by-side with her husband and raised their family. Joe died November 2,
2011.
While in Connecticut, Rita was employed at Pratt and Whitney in New Britain, and after moving
to Vermont, she worked at the former Rock of Ages Capacitor Plant and Sprague Electric Company
for 35 years.
She was a member of the St. Cecilia Church in Washington. Her other memberships included
Washington Snow Flyers, Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) and Eastern Milk
Producers. Rita was an avid traveler, she and her husband Joe visited many countries. Rita's
happiest times of her life were sharing time with her family and friends, lots of love, laughter and
hugs, playing cards, joking around with the grandchildren, just being together.
Left to cherish her memory include her daughters, Alice Poulin and her husband, Reginald of
Washington, Diane Lyford and her husband, Daniel of the Villages, Florida, Janet Burnor and her
husband, Michael of Hinesburg, and Nancy Brogna and her husband, Paul of Williston; her son
Rosaire "Posey" Cyr of Washington; her 16 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-
great-grandchildren; her brothers, Paul Carrier and his wife, Frances of Colchester and Eugene
Carrier and his wife, Mary of Williamstown; her sister, Jane Cyr of Connecticut; and many
nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents, her stepmother, her husband, and three brothers, Albert,
Louis, and Marcel Carrier and her sister, Lucille Cyr.
Relatives and friends of Rita are invited to attend calling hours on Saturday March 21, 2015 from
10:00 a.m. to Noon at the Hooker Funeral Home, 7 Academy Street, Barre. A Mass of Christian
Burial will follow at 1:00 p.m. in the St. Monica's Catholic Church at 79 Summer Street in Barre.
Interment will take place in the spring at the St. Sylvester Cemetery in Websterville at the
convenience of her family.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Vermont Respite House, 99 Allen Brook Lane,
Williston, VT 05495.