Marie Rita Chesley

In loving tribute to our extraordinary mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Marie Rita (Auclair) Chesley, affectionately known as "Rita," "Mom," and "Mémère," who peacefully transitioned from this world on November 22, 2025.
We come together as those who loved her to celebrate a life illuminated by love, aspiration, and tenacity. Rita's journey was marked by a profound dedication to family, leaving an indelible impact on all who had the privilege of crossing her path. She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, compassion, and generosity.
Rita was born on March 18th, 1932, in Saint-Quentin, New Brunswick, Canada, to Levite Joseph Auclair and Corinne Vautour Auclair. She emerged into a world touched by the Great Depression. Growing up in poverty, she learned the value of perseverance from an early age. Rita's mother, a teacher, provided her with the precious gift of education, instilling in her the power of knowledge and laying the foundation for a remarkable journey.
Rita's life story unfolded in various chapters, including a formative period spent in Saint-Louis-de-Kent, New Brunswick, with her cherished grandmother, Clara LeBlanc Vautour. Their bond became a powerful influence, shaping Rita's character for the rest of her life.
Rita's life trajectory led her to Maine, where she first met the love of her life, Sanford Earl Chesley, during her high school years. When Earl returned from the Korean War in 1954, they married and began their life together. They created a family that would grow to include five children, and as a family, we weathered the storms of life hand in hand.
Tragedy struck in 1961 when Earl was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. He lost his battle with the disease in 1967. Rita's strength shone through as she navigated the challenges of becoming a single mother, shouldering the responsibility of raising her five children. In the face of grief and adversity, she demonstrated unparalleled resilience, becoming a beacon of inspiration for her family.
Undeterred by life's hardships, Rita pursued higher education, attending the University of Maine with the assistance of the GI Bill. Juggling the roles of student and single mother, she exemplified determination, finally earning a Bachelor of Arts with distinction in French in 1979. Rita's unwavering commitment to education became a guiding force for her children, inspiring each of them to pursue and attain at least a four-year degree.
Rita fulfilled her dream by constructing the shell of a camp on Cold Stream Pond in Lincoln, Maine. Regardless of where her children resided during the school year, we had the lake as our cherished summer home. Going "upta camp" on Chesley Lane became synonymous with visits from extended family, campfires, barbecues, canoeing, swimming, boat rides, water skiing, and all the lake had to offer. Later, the home was completed and became Rita's permanent residence. A new generation of memories was created by her grandchildren as they spent time at the lake in the woods with their beloved Mémère. Rita's deep connection to the natural world brought immense joy to us, as we learned to appreciate the wonders of the environment under her guidance.
Rita's passion for genealogy revealed a rich family history that she proudly shared with her children. Her Acadian roots held a special place in her heart. In 1994, she attended the first modern Congrès mondial acadien with her siblings and cousins, deepening her connection to her cultural heritage.
Marie Rita (Auclair) Chesley leaves behind a legacy that extends through her surviving children: Kathleen (Chesley) Knight, Stephen Chesley and wife Tammy Desousa, Marie Chesley and wife Margaret McInnis, Elizabeth Chesley Covert; her cherished grandchildren, Matthew Knight, Sarah Knight and husband Michael Morrical, Rachel (Chesley) Keshteh Gar and husband Ehsanali Keshteh Gar, and Jared Chesley; her beloved great-granddaughters, Zoe Morrical and Scout Morrical; a dear niece, Margaret Cardoza and husband Mario Cardoza, and her family and friends in Spirit at Unifour Church. Rita also leaves behind countless relatives and friends, who love her and continue to carry forth her spirit.
Rita was preceded in death by her parents and husband; her first-born son, Sanford Earl Chesley Jr.; sisters Maria Cecilia (Auclair) Sereyko and Mary Theresa Rossell; brothers Joseph Aurele Auclair, Joseph Patrick Auclair, and Joseph André Auclair; a beloved cousin Therese Vautour Mazerolle, a darling niece Susan Schemanski, and a cherished step-daughter Brenda Lee Bridges Dion.
Rita's memory will endure in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. As we bid farewell to a remarkable woman, may her legacy of love, strength, aspiration, and perseverance continue to inspire generations to come.
The family would like to thank her care team of Lisa, Shua, Sondra, Marea, and Pastor Rob from Carolina Caring. A special thank you to Marie Hunter for taking care of our mom with such love and care in her last days.
A graveside service will be scheduled for the spring of 2026, when Rita will be interred next to her husband at Saint Matthew's Cemetery in West Enfield, Maine. Details will be published and posted at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, and in honor of Rita's generous spirit and lifelong desire to help others in any way she could, the family welcomes memorial contributions to:
American Cancer Society – www.donate.cancer.org
Rita's spiritual community – mail donations to:
Unifour Church
2257 Old Conover-Startown Road
Newton, NC 28658
Carolina Caring Hospice - donate at carolingcaring.org/our-foundation
These are suggestions, but our mother believed deeply in giving – whether it was time, kindness, or whatever resources she had. If there is a cause, a community, or a need that speaks to your heart, we invite you to support it in her memory. She would have loved knowing that her legacy continues through acts of care.
"We are the sum of all who came before us-
the echoes of their courage,
the light of their love,
the inheritance of their stories.
In remembering them,
we remember ourselves."
- Acadian Proverb (adapted)