Rita M. Blair

PITTSFIELD -- Rita M. Blair, 88, of 379 East St., Providence Court, died Monday evening at Berkshire Medical Center.

Born in Pittsfield on March 5, 1915, daughter of Richard F. and Ellen M. Granger Buckley, she was a 1932 graduate of St. Joseph’s High School. She also graduated from the former Our Lady of the Elms College in Chicopee in 1936.

Mrs. Blair was employed as a teacher by the Pittsfield Public Schools from 1963 until retiring in 1975. She taught French for six years in the elementary schools and then kindergarten at the former Dawes School for six years. Previously, she had worked at GE for 15 years.

She was a communicant of St. Mark’s Church until moving to Providence Court in 1987, when she became a communicant of Mount Carmel Church. She was a member of the Massachusetts Retired Teachers’ Association, AARP and the Ralph J. Froio Senior Center. She enjoyed bingo and socializing with her friends.

Her husband, William F. Blair, whom she married June 7, 1941, died July 22, 1985.

She leaves a son, Richard C. Blair of North Easton and three grandchildren.

FUNERAL NOTICE -- Rita M. Buckley Blair, age 88, died April 21, 2003. Calling hours will be Thursday from 5 to 7 at DEVANNY-CONDRON FUNERAL HOME. The funeral will be Friday at 10:15 from the funeral home, with a Liturgy of Christian Burial celebrated at 11 at Mount Carmel Church by the Rev. Geoffrey Deeker, pastor. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, if friends desire, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society in care of the funeral home, 40 Maplewood Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201. She is also survived by her daughter-in-law, Margaret Lamb, and her grandchildren, Ian, Alex and Maggie Blair-Lamb.