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Rita and Alfred were married in 1941 on Labor Day. They were both 21 years old from French-Canadian descent, geneology search to the 1600's.
Rita's father Alfred (1886-1956) was a farmer and carpenter, her mother Marie Girard (1890-1964) a homemaker. They had 4 children.
Alfred's father Edouard worked in shoe shops and his mother Evangeline (Boisvert) was a homemaker and seamstress. By the time Evangeline was 30 years old she had given birth to 8 children.

Both families were devote Catholics. In combining both immediate families there were 3 religious and 1 priest. Alfred also went to a seminary in Canada and proceeded to Boneventure College in NY to study philosophy. He was sponsored by his uncle Wilfrid Richer also a priest. Alfred, realizing that this was not his vocation, left his studies, came back to NH, found a trade that was profitable and worked as a meat cutter.

Both were raised in a very caring environment with good work ethics and many siblings to share their time. They were both educated in Catholic schools and high school graduates. Family life was the #1 priority as was religion, work and school. Bicycles were the main transportation, not many had cars, walking was the way to get to places and sometimes buses. No TV's. The radio, playing games and sports with friends everyday was the norm. Lots of swimming in the summer, ice skating and sledding in the winter.

In 1941 war was declared, Alfred tried to enlist in the Army but was declined twice. As the war accelerated more people were drafted and he got his papers in Nov. 1943. After basic training and before he was shipped overseas, he spent a few days with Rita in NY in April of 1944. He came home on furlough in June and that was to be the last time anyone saw him alive.

He fought many battles, received several awards but died at the Battle of the Bulge on Dec. 21, 1944, he was 24 years old, Jackie 2 1/2 and Rita was ready to give birth to a son, who she named Edward Alfred.
The dreadful telegram came the night Rita left for the hospital to deliver their second child but the telegram was intercepted by her father. The family lived on the 3rd floor apartment that her parents Alfred and Marie owned. All papers and radios were removed from her sight and visitors were cautioned not to speak about the incident until her doctor gave permission. She received the news from Uncle Wilfrid, a few days after giving birth. When Rita was well enough they had a memorial service for Alfred but the body was buried in Belgium.

Around that same time a young marine (Marcel Lesmerises) fighting in the Pacific had heard the news about Alfred. Marcel and Rita had previously dated and he told his comrades that when he got back to the states, he was going to marry a widow with 2 children. True to his words he married Rita on April 22, 1946.

Marcel and Rita had a son. Gerald on Jan. 10, 1947 and when she was pregnant with Donald (born July 2, 1948), Rita received the news that Alfred's parents were having their son Alfred's' body shipped back to the U.S. What must have gone through Rita's mind? This had to be devastating news to go through all this again and expecting a second child with Marcel.

Alfred's body was the first one to come back to NH and it made the headlines in the newspaper. A 3-day wake and a full military funeral once again but this time with his parents in the front rows. Rita and her family were placed in back of the parents and siblings.
It had to be hard for Alfred's parents to make this decision. Alfred's mother Evangeline was a very wise woman and I'm sure she weighed all the possibilities but her heart won over and her son Alfred was buried in the family plot where he now rests with his parents, his grandparents, his brother Maurice and his Uncle Wilfrid. "May they all rest in the peace of the Risen Christ".

Marcel was the son of Camille and Marie Louise (Leclerc) Lesmerises. Camille was a foreman at one of the shoe manufacturers at the Manchester Mills, Marie was a homemaker and seamstress. They had 8 children.

In 1950 Rita and Marcel built a home at 311 Reed Street, a nice 4 bedroom cape and were living a very comfortable lifestyle. By 1957 there were 5 more siblings, a total of 7 children, in this close knit family. These were the best of times, nice home, nice car, good friends, good times. Rita and Marcel went out almost every Saturday evening, oftentimes to the Carousel Ballroom with their many friends.
Rita was a stay at home mom, Marcel a Fireman and he also did some construction work and meat cutting.

In 1958 the family went on vacation to Florida. Rita and Marcel had gone the winter before with Memere Marineau. It was decided that we were moving to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
We were a down to earth kind of family and somehow we ended up living in this beautiful community Melrose Park that was a little beyond our living standards. Rita and Marcel had gotten a good price on the house, because the people were anxious to get back north. The house had 2 bathrooms all ceramic tile, 3 bedrooms, a large living room, divider planter to the Florida room with jalousie windows and beautiful pink kitchen with matching appliances and a mud room and carport. It was very luxurious.

Bob the youngest was born in Ft. Lauderdale on April 19, 1961.

The summer of 1963 Rita's first grandchild Donna was born. The family returned to live in NH that summer. The family made their home at 641 Union Street. Aunt Madeleine & Uncle Fern's apartment.

On March 10, 1964, Rita's mother died after much suffering. She had diabetes and already had one leg amputated in 1959 and had surgery on her remaining leg but died of a heart attack.
Memere Marineau was a very docile woman with a nature of warmth and long suffering. She was easy going and not much bothered her, she was at peace with herself and accepted her illness in a very redemptive manner.

In October 1973 Marcel died of cardiac arrest after years of abusing alcohol and prescribed drugs. He was 53.
In 1972 he received a full medical disability from the government because his doctors gave proof that his mental disability was caused by post war trauma. This is certainly one of the major causes; no person can ever be the same after engaging in war and killing another human being.
At the time of Marcel's death, he was separated from Rita. His drinking and abuse caused Rita to ask him to leave. This was a very difficult time for the family especially for Rita and two teenage daughters, Connie & Judy and son Bob who was 12.

On May 27, 1974 on the Friday following a Marriage Encounter weekend that Jackie & Dick attended, Jackie had a spiritual awakening. Jackie put 2 year Lisa down for a nap and still being tired from the week following her experience, she took a nap around 1:30 in the afternoon before going to work at 5:30. Before falling asleep she asked herself why her dad Marcel (who died in October 1973) was so disillusioned with life and gave up on himself and the ones who loved him? At precisely 2:55 PM, 5 minutes before Donna and Joanne were scheduled to get home from school, Jackie had the following experience. The answer came from deep inside of her." My dad was hurting because no one chose to understand and listen to his feelings, his believes, his thoughts, no one really gave to him the understanding that he needed". Also deep within her being the awareness that hurt is a very self-centered emotion and if you let go of hurt, love can grow again. Seconds after this knowledge came, she experienced a great love from her dad Marcel (died in 1973), followed by the same great love from her father Alfred (died in 1944) and than a tremendous overwhelming love from God, the Father. Arms enveloping Jackie all three together as one being.

In 1975 Jackie and Dick bought a religious bookstore and turned it into a pretty nice bookstore that grew leaps and bounds. Rita worked part time and enjoyed the comradeship and was happy that she could use her talents to spread the Gospel. Rita worked 14 years until its closing in 1989. The 14 years were filled with much work, challenges and many friendships.

In 1980 Rita moved into an apartment in Goffstown sharing in the home of Jackie and Dick and their family. She loved her new apartment but unfortunately in 1986 because of financial and business difficulties Jackie and Dick sold their large home and moved to a Condo with Lisa. Forcing, Rita, Donna and Joanne to find their own homes. This was very painful for all.

In 1986 Rita moved into an apartment in Manchester at 435 Dubuque Street in the home of Judy and Tom and their family. She lived there for 15 years. Rita became part of their growing family and loved being back in her old neighborhood and close proximity to Ste. Marie Church. Rita became involved in Tom's position as Alderman and helped get many votes because of her numerous acquaintances in the neighborhood and parish.

In 1994 on her way to her granddaughters Dawn wedding in North Carolina, Rita was boarding a plane with her son Gerry and broke her hip. The recovery was very difficult. In a few months she was able to go home with supervision. Rita never completely felt safe about walking etc. after this incident. She lost a lot of energy both physical and emotional. Doctor Shea her physician during these months assured her that she was completely healed.

In March of 1997, Rita was having some difficulties with her medicines and she spent 1 month at the Elliot hospital being evaluated. It was hard for the family to see her go through the tests. At times she was a bit reluctant about the whole process but she was a trouper and the doctor was able to adjust all her medications and she was sent home. Luckily she lived upstairs from Judy, so she was able to go home with some supervision. Judy saw to it that she took the proper medicines etc.

In December of 1999 Rita started to use the computer and she took to it like she was using a typewriter. With a little bit of training she was able to enjoy the full benefits of email, internet, games etc. It was great that she found something to do that she enjoyed.

Towards the end of Rita's fruitful life, her legs gave her problems, so she didn't go out much. The stairs were difficult and her balance and vertigo gave her an uneasiness. She had suffered a few minor strokes but was very fortunate that she did not lose her abilities both physically and mentally.

On June 9, 2001, Rita was admitted to CMC after suffering a major stroke. Rita rallied for 10 days before passing on to eternal life. May Rita rest in the Peace of the Risen Lord.