Rita Claire Keefe

BURLINGTON – Rita Claire Keefe, 88, of Pearl St, formerly of Champlain, NY, passed away Monday, April 6, 2015 at University of Vermont Medical Center.
Born November 3, 1926 in Barre, she was the daughter of Edward Michael and Mary Elizabeth (Jordan) Keefe. Rita attended local schools, graduating from Spaulding High School in 1944 and the University of Vermont in 1948.
Rita taught for 21 years in the Burlington school system, primarily first grade and kindergarten, and retired from Flynn Elementary School in 1969. She then worked at Kelly Pharmacy in Burlington and Allan Milne Pharmacy in Barre. In 1975, she returned to teaching and taught for another 17 years at St. Mary’s Academy in Champlain, NY. She was an outstanding teacher and many parents put their children on a waiting list for her class as soon as they were born. She was known for the crafts she did with the children and for the songs and skits her students performed for their parents four times a year. On Halloween, Rita would have over a hundred visitors since all of her students wanted to go to Miss Keefe’s house. Rita was also in charge of roller skating at the school and was the head money counter of the annual bazaar which would gross over $45,000.
Her greatest joy was spending time with her family. She was known for sending cards to all her great nieces and nephews on the holidays, always including a dollar. She loved children and spent hours playing with her nieces and nephews, often taking them to the movies, the park, out for ice cream or for a ride on the ferry. PIG and Shoo-shah-no were favorite games. Rita also enjoyed crocheting, and made afghans for many family members.
Rita was a talented musician playing the piano, flute, and base drum and she played the pipe organ at St. Mary’s Church at the Saturday evening mass. She often played the piano for sing-alongs with her family. Her sister Pat has fond memories of performing with Rita in a Minstrel Show at the Thayer School.
She traveled to Ogunquit, Maine, every summer with her sister Theresa and traveled to Denver to visit her sister Pat. A highlight in her life was her trip to Ireland with her two Irish sisters.
Survivors include her sister, Patricia Vanecek of Burlington; her brother-in-law, Ernest Bancroft of Barre; her nieces and nephews: Michael Keefe, Kevin Keefe, Kathy Ryan, Thomas O’Keefe, Molly Keefe, Deborah Balserus, Mary Ellen Natusch, Susan Vanecek, and William Vanecek; and many great nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her twin brother, Francis Keefe; her sister, Theresa Bancroft; and her nephews Gregory Keefe, Skip Bancroft, and Patrick Keefe.
Family and friends are invited to attend calling hours at the Hooker and Whitcomb Funeral Home, 7 Academy Street, Barre on Friday, April 10, 2015 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Rita will be celebrated on Saturday, April 11, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in St. Monica Catholic Church at 79 Summer Street in Barre.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Central Vermont Catholic School, 79 Summer
Street, Barre, VT 05641.