Rita May Costello Smith
Rita was a life-long resident of Westford and was graduated from Westford Academy. She worked many years as an office administrator at the Army Security Agency School at Fort Devens. Previously, Rita worked at Abbott Worsted Company and the First National Bank of Ayer. She loved her nieces and nephews, and was an artist, avid skier, and cook. In her younger years, she tried horseback riding and piloting a small plane. Rita was a member of St. Marks Church in Westford, and was a Sunday school teacher for several years.
Rita was pre-deceased by her husband, Avery “Bud” Smith and her brother, William Costello of Chelmsford. Survivors include five nieces and four nephews.
Bud and Rita built their own house at 15 Coolidge Ave,
Nabnasset in Westford in the 1950′s and lived there all their married life. Rita treasured her neighbors, Claire, Bonnie, and Connie.
Most recently, Rita lived at RiverCourt Residences in West Groton, MA, where she was a constant source of good cheer a nd friendliness. Niece Susan Smith and her husband, Steve Smith of Westford, were Rita’s caretakers during her Alzheimer’s disease for the last five years of her life.
A burial service will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery in Ayer, MA on Saturday July 21st at 11:00 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org, or P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-7011.
