Rita A. Lapalme

Rita A. (Moras) LaPalme of Belchertown, MA, died Monday January 7th at the age of 89. Born in Holyoke, MA the second of six children of the late J. Wilfrid and M. Ernestine (Coté) Moras. Rita and her late husband Eugene F. LaPalme, who died in 2000, were married for 53 years. Rita attended the former St. Joseph Elementary School in Springfield, MA and West Springfield High School in West Springfield, MA. Rita and Gene lived on Sachem St. in Springfield from 1954 until their move to Belchertown in 1984. Prior to her marriage in 1946, Rita was an employee of New England Telephone and Telegraph. Rita left there in 1947 to raise her four sons whom she leaves to mourn her loss: Charles and his wife Elaine of Monroe Twp, NJ; Richard and his wife Suzanne of Havelock, NC; Raymond and his wife Claudia of Prospect, Ct; and Rev. Paul M. LaPalme pastor of St. Brigid Church and Assumption Church, both in Millbury, MA. She leaves six grandchildren: Nicole LaPalme, William Sima, Jr., Eric LaPalme, Pamela Sima, Zachary LaPalme and Michelle LaPalme. She also leaves 2 sisters: Lorraine Strain of Springfield and Jeannette Smith of South Hadley, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and her husband, Rita was predeceased by her brothers, Fernand Moras, Ronald Moras, and Donald Moras.

Until her death, Rita was an active member of the Belchertown Senior Center, the aerobics swim club of Belchertown. She was a member of Les Dames de St. Anne and Le Cercle Social of the former St. Joseph Catholic Church in Springfield, MA. Rita was an avid card player and bingo player. She was an active member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Belchertown. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend, Rita will always be remembered as a very humble woman who loved her God and cared deeply for her family and friends.

Rita's funeral Mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12th in St. Brigid Church, 59 Main St. in Millbury. Calling hours will begin in St. Brigid Church at 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 11th and conclude with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Burial will be in St. Thomas the Apostle Cemetery in West Springfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either, St. Brigid Church, 59 Main St. Millbury, MA 01527 or to Assumption Church, 12 Waters St. Millbury, MA 01527.
Read Rita LaPalme's Obituary and Guestbook on mulhane.com.