Rita Fraser

Rita Blair Fraser 1919 -2011 PITTSFIELD Former long-time Pittsfield resident, Rita Fraser, 92, of Houston, Texas, passed quietly on Sunday, July 17, 2011. Born in Pittsfield, Rita attended Pittsfield High School and would later become a longtime parishioner of Notre Dame Church on Melville Street. For the past decade, following heart surgery, Rita has been residing with her son, Bill, and his wife, Diana Fraser, in Houston, where she became a fan of the Houston Astros and blazing hot summers. Rita was the widow of former Pittsfield City Councilman and Deputy Sheriff, John F. Fraser. They were married in 1939. Rita was a longtime member of Skyline Country Club in Lanesboro where she could be seen golfing as many as six times a week, sometimes even with her husband. In earlier days, she assisted her husband in the running of both Hagn's Variety Store and Ray and John's Package store on Hancock Road at Pontoosuc Lake. Rita also provided long time care in her home for her father-in-law, William Stanislaus Fraser, prior to his passing. One of Rita's favorite pastimes was picking blueberries throughout Berkshire County and having morning coffee with her neighbors at the lake. Rita is survived by a daughter, Judith, and her husband, former Pittsfield Fireman Gordon McLeod, of Spring Hill, Fla.; two sons who consistently bickered as to who was their mother's favorite, John Francis Fraser and his wife, Lysbeth, of Portsmouth, N.H., and favorite son, William Fraser and his wife, Diana, of Houston; eight grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Rita was predeceased by her daughter, Mary, who was lost at birth in 1954. FUNERAL NOTICE: There will be a prayer service at DEVANNY CONDRON FUNERAL HOME, 40 Maplewood Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201, at 1 p.m. on Monday, July 25, 2011, followed by a short service at graveside at St. Joseph's Cemetery. There will be no calling hours. Memorial donations may be made to the John Fraser Memorial Scholarship Fund, care of Jim Mitus at Skyline Country Club, (413) 445-5584. Please visit www.devanny-condron.com for directions or to offer sympathies to the family.