Rita C. Lafontaine

LAWRENCE — Mrs. Rita C. (Chiarenza) Lafontaine, 81, beloved wife of the late Clement L. Lafontaine with whom she had shared 50 years of marriage, died Saturday morning, July 11, 2009 in the Lawrence General Hospital.

Born and raised in Lawrence, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Frances (Gullo) Chiarenza. She graduated from Lawrence High School, Class of 1945 and the Bryant McIntosh Business School. Later she obtained her Paralegal certificate from Bentley College in Waltham. Mrs. Lafontaine had been employed for 16 years as a legal secretary for the Miragliotta Law Offices and prior to that, she had worked for 33 years as a legal secretary for Judge Salvatore Basile. She had also taught shorthand at the Bryant McIntosh Business School for 11 years. Following her retirement, she volunteered as a teacher's aide at the local parochial schools, Holy Trinity, St. Monica's, Central Catholic and St. Mary's Grammar School. She also volunteered at the Brigham Hospital in Boston and the Holy Family Hospital in Methuen. She was a charter member of the Greater Lawrence Legal Secretaries Association and had served as their first president.

She is survived by her daughter, Linda J. Murphy and her husband Deacon Steven J. Murphy of Lawrence; three grandchildren, Steven J. Murphy Jr. of Lawrence, Lauren J. Uitts and her husband Kevin of Rochester, N.H., and Kristen M. Murphy of Lawrence; two great-grandchildren, Daniel Christopher Murphy and Matthew Edward Murphy, who were the joy of her life.

ARRANGEMENTS: Family and friends may call on Monday, July 13, 2009 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Cataudella Funeral Home, 126 Pleasant Valley St., Methuen. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 11 a.m. in St. Theresa Church at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, 22 Plymouth St., Methuen. Entombment will follow at the St. Mary Mausoleum, Barker Street, Lawrence. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Rita's memory to the Marist Missionary Sisters, 349 Grove St., Waltham, MA 02453 or St. Basil Seminary, 30 East St., Methuen, MA 01844. For directions and condolences, please visit our Web site and online guestbook at www.cataudellaFH.com.