Rita G. Lussier, 84
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Rita Gloria Lussier, 84, of 18 Tyler St. died Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010, at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester.
Born in Adams on March 8, 1926, a daughter of Leon and Florida LaFrance Noel, she attended Notre Dame Elementary School in Adams and graduated from the former Adams High School in 1944. She received her bachelor's degree in 1948 from Rivier College in Nashua, N.H.
Mrs. Lussier was an accomplished seamstress, teaching beginning and advanced sewing and tailoring in both Adams and North Adams evening school programs. She also taught in the home economics department at Drury High School, and did substitute teaching at all levels. She worked at the former Sewing Nook in Williamstown with her sister Jeanne Steuer and taught classes in knitting, sewing and tailoring there. She also had been employed as a clerk at the former Novtex Factory Outlet and taught needlework and craft classes at the factory. She assisted in the family business Noel Inc. in North Adams.
She was the accompanist for Mount Anthony Union School District vocal music program in Vermont and for the North Adams Public School music program, working with elementary, middle and high school choruses and acting as both rehearsal and performance accompanist for several musical productions.
She was a communicant of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church and a member of LeCercle Francais.
Her husband, Leo Paul Lussier, whom she married Aug. 27, 1949, died Sept. 8, 1986.
She leaves four sons, Bruce Lussier of Nashville, Tenn., Craig Lussier of North Oxford, Brian Lussier of Charlton and Scott Lussier of Webster; two daughters, Paula Lussier Manthei and Christina Lussier Duval, both of Pownal, Vt.; a brother, Francis Noel of Savoy; two sisters, Jeanne Steuer of North Adams and Lorraine Mendel of Wappingers Falls, N.Y., and 12 grandchildren, Aimee, Michelle, Chadwick, Ashley, Bethany, James, Christopher, Nicholas, Dillon, Nicole, Megan and Molly.
She was predeceased by her daughter Paula Jeanne Lussier and her sister Nancy Noel, both in infancy, and her brother Leon Noel.
FUNERAL NOTICE — A liturgy of Christian Burial will take place Saturday, Aug. 28, at 10:30 at St. Elizabeth Church in North Adams. Burial will follow in Southview Cemetery.
Calling hours will be Saturday from 8 to 10 a.m. at Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, Central Chapels, 74 Marshall St., North Adams. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested for the Clara Barton Center in North Oxford through the funeral home.