Rita C. Burgess

Rita C. Burgess of Hingham, MA., formerly of Whitefish Bay, WI, East Grand Rapids, MI, and Camp Hill, PA, died peacefully at Harbor House Rehabilitation and Nursing Home, on October 22, 2013, at the age of 97.  She was born in New England, North Dakota, June 1, 1916, the 7th of 10 children, to Anna and JJ Murphy.  Her father’s death, in 1923, necessitated the family moving to Milwaukee, WI.  Rita graduated from Washington High School and earned a BA, in Education, from Milwaukee State Teachers College, (now UWM) in 1937.  As a sophomore, she was the first women in school history to be elected President of her class.  She became a secondary school teacher in West Allis, WI., in 1938.  She married James E Burgess, starting a 47 year marriage, on Nov. 25, 1942.  After the war, she lived in LaCrosse, WI., and Milwaukee, finally settling in Whitefish Bay in 1950.  Mrs. Burgess was a devoted family women, living in “The Bay” amongst 3 sisters and 1 brother, and their children.  She took great pride in her two children’s many activities, leading to her being an avid sports fan, especially college football.   A women of strong faith, she found great comfort and value in the Catholicism that shaped her life.  She was a member of the Lay Carmelite Order of the Blessed Virgin. She will be remembered as a kind, loving, extremely outgoing personality, engaging anyone who crossed her path.

 

She is the beloved wife of 47 years to the late James E Burgess, and the devoted mother of Christopher N Burgess and his late wife Kathleen, of Hanover, MA., and David J Burgess of Florida.  She is the cherished grandmother of 7 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.  She is the loving sister to Patrice Quan, of Scottsdale, AZ, and is predeceased by 8 brothers and sisters.  She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

 

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the Mass of the Resurrection, at St Mary’s of the Sacred Heart Church, Hanover, MA, at 10 AM, on Tuesday, November 12, 2013.   Burial at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Rita and her late daughter-in-law, Kathleen, may be made to the Madam Ovary Foundation, PO Box 734, New Castle, NH 03854, to help find a cure for ovarian cancer.