Rita J. Smith

Jaffrey NH

RITA J. SMITH, 76, of Squantum Road, Jaffrey died peacefully Sunday May 22, 2011 at the Cheshire Medical Center in Keene following a long illness.

She was born December 17, 1934 in Boston MA daughter of the late Frank and Nellie (Ashrut) Jucius. She was a 1952 graduate of Keene High School and has been a resident of Jaffrey since 1954.

Rita was employed as an operator with the former New England Telephone Company, first at the Peterborough office and then in Keene, Manchester and Gardner MA. She retired from Verizon in 2004 following forty nine years of employment.

Rita was a homemaker who loved to bake and cook, her holiday dinners were special ; her family said she was another Martha Stewart. She enjoyed gardening and loved to feed and watch the birds in her yard. She also was a collector of clocks of all kinds, especially coo-coo clocks. She also enjoyed the love of her dogs co-co and kitzel.

Survivors include her daughter Kim L. Smith of Jaffrey and her companion Tony Panagiotes; two sons Kurt D. Belletete and his companion Jayne Scarrell of Peterborough and Karl F. Belletete of Fayetteville, NC; six grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and Ritas companion of forty years Alfred C. Vorce of Jaffrey.

For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to Jaffrey-Rindge Memorial Ambulance Fund, P.O. Box 107, Jaffrey NH 03452.

As per her request, there will be no formal funeral services at this time.
Following cremation, private burial will be at the convenience of her family.