LEE, Mass. — Rita Alice DeVarennes, 89, died peacefully at her home in Lee surrounded by her family on Wednesday, March 1, 2017.

Rita was born in Lynn, Mass., on May 1, 1927, the daughter of Wilfred and Alice Savard Belliveau. She was the oldest of 12 children.

She married John E. DeVarennes on April 30, 1950. Rita and John moved to Lee in 1959 to raise their nine children. Rita was a communicant of St. Mary's Church, a Lector for 38 years, a member of the Perpetual Adoration Society and St. Martha’s / St. Mary’s Sodality, Chairman of the Canteen for the Red Cross for 35 years, and an Avon representative for 44 years.

Rita enjoyed spending time with her family and received much joy from her grandchildren and great-grandchildren through the years. She spent many hours watching the Boston Celtics and Boston Red Sox and knitting afghans for her friends and family. Rita and John were married for 61 years before his passing in 2011.

Rita is survived by her seven children, Mary Rossi of Lee, Theresa Collins and her husband Terrance of South Lee, Jean Brighenti and her husband James of Lee, Norene Malumphy and her husband Robert of Lee, Susan Hicks of Colorado, James DeVarennes of Lee and Michael DeVarennes and his wife Kathleen of Lee; a daughter-in-law, Mary Lynn DeVarennes of Lee; 10 siblings, Jeanette Murphy, Alice Ellis, Mary Guptill, Bertha Cripps, Shirley Christman, Wilfred Belliveau, Catherine Raymond and Thomas Belliveau; 18 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Besides her parents and her husband, Rita is predeceased by a daughter, Ann DeVarennes Hawkins; a son, John J. DeVarennes; a grandson, Garret Morse DeVarennes; a son-in-law, Edward Rossi; and a sister, Cecilia Farrell.

Funeral notice: A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 4, 2017, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church in Lee. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery.

Visiting hours will be on Friday evening, March 3, 2017, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Kelly Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers friends wishing may make donations in her memory to Hospice Care in the Berkshires or Porchlight / VNA Homecare in c/o the Kelly Funeral Home 3 Main Street Lee, MA 01238.