Rita Pierce

05/16/2007

Rita Pierce, 70, of 155 Marble St., formerly of Savoy, died yesterday at home. She was postmaster of Richmond from 1991 to 2000. Born in Lenox on Nov. 7, 1936, daughter of Henry M. and Dorothy Donovan Finnegan, she attended schools in Lee, including St. Mary's Elementary School, and graduated from Lee High School with the class of 1954. Before she was postmaster, Mrs. Pierce worked for 14 years for the Kmart Corp., first at its former Pittsfield store and later as office manager of its former North Adams store. She was a communicant of the Parish of Notre Dame-St. Thomas in Adams. She was a former member of the Adams Agricultural Fair Association, and had also served as a selectman for the Town of Savoy for several years. Her husband, Alfred Pierce, whom she married Nov. 12, 1960, died April 19, 2005. Mrs. Pierce leaves a son, Scott Pierce of Cheshire; four daughters, Cheryl Lewis of Cheshire, Lisa Pierce-Buffis of Lee, Kimberly Witek of North Adams and Marge Burns of Enfield, Conn.; two brothers, Edward and Thomas Finnegan, both of Lee; two sisters, Eleanor Bartini of Lee and Margaret Beckwith of Great Barrington; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- The funeral for Rita Pierce, who died Wednesday, May 16, 2007, will be held Monday at 9 a.m. from PACIOREK FUNERAL HOME, 13 Hoosac St., Adams, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 in St. Thomas' Church, Adams, celebrated by the Rev. Daniel J. Boyle, pastor of the Catholic Parishes of Adams. Burial will follow in Bellevue Cemetery, Adams. Calling hours are Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the Western Mass. Tractor Pullers' Association or to HospiceCare in the Berkshires through the funeral home. To leave a message of condolence, or for directions, please go to www.apsfuneralhome.com. Mrs. Pierce also leaves a daughter-in-law, Sue Pierce; two sons-in-law, Steven Lewis and James Buffis; her daughter Kimberly's companion, William McNiece; and several nieces and nephews.

Obituaries

Celebrating Lives & Legacies

Rita Pierce

Memorials