Rudolph C. Ritari

Rudolph C. Ritari of Lunenburg, Army vet, WWII; 87 LUNENBURG Rudolph C. Ritari, 87, of Lunenburg, died Thursday, Nov. 27, in the Quabbin Valley Rehabilitation Center, Athol, MA, after a long illness. His wife of 54 years, Christina H. (Peterson) Ritari, died in 2001. He leaves one son, Paul R. Ritari of Fitchburg; one daughter, Christina H. Moeckel of Lunenburg; and two grandchildren, Amanda Moeckel of San Francisco, CA, and Matthew Moeckel of Fall River, MA. Mr. Ritari was employed at Simonds Saw & Steel in Fitchburg for over 30 years, retiring in 1982. He attended Fitchburg High School, and was a member of the Pilgrim Covenant Church in Lunenburg. He was a veteran of World War II, U.S. Army, serving as a Private First Class in the 397th Infantry Regiment in the European African Middle Eastern Theater. He was decorated with a Bronze Star Medal and the Distinguished Unit Badge. He was born in Ashburnham, MA, on October 12, 1921, a son of the late Paul and Hilda (Maki) Ritari, and lived in Lunenburg since 1948. RITARI Funeral Services are private and there are no calling hours. Burial will take place at a later date in the Massachusetts Veterans Cemetery in Winchendon, MA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Veterans Homestead, 69 High St., Fitchburg, MA 01420. The Lunenburg Chapel of the Sawyer-Miller-Masciarelli Funeral Home, 763 Mass Ave., Lunenburg, is directing Funeral arrangements. Please see www.masciarellifamilyfuneralhomes.net for further information.