Published January 10, 2020
MELROSE — Rita Bushee (Sullivan), 81, born December 11, 1938, passed away peacefully January 6, 2020 at home, surrounded by her loving family.
Born to the late Bernard and Helen Sullivan, Rita was one of six children. Originally an Everett native, she moved to Melrose after marrying the love of her life, John Bushee. Rita and John were married for 57 wonderful years, raising five daughters together.
Rita loved watching the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots, playing cards, doing her search-words, watching classic movies, vacationing and spending time with family. She loved all her grandchildren dearly – she especially enjoyed being surrounded by the happiness and laughter they brought to her home. She also loved to spoil her dog Lilly, who never left her side.
Rita graduated from Everett High School. She later married and became a stay-at-home mom, raising her daughters and helping to raise her grandchildren. She was the center of her family who whole-heartedly love her and will miss her dearly.
She is survived by her daughters Karen Savage and her husband Robert, Joan Lambert and her husband James, Susan Shreenan and her husband Eddie, Jan DeFelice and her husband George and Judy Bushee, as well as her sisters Irene Bertocchi and her husband Eugene and Helen Panzini. Also survived by her grandchildren Erin, John, Megan, Ryan, Michael, Scott, Katie, Molly, Thomas, Eric, Julie, Brian, Cole, Adam, Cody and Devlin as well as many nieces and nephews. She was the loving sister of the late Bernard Sullivan, Veronica Poirier and Lawrence Sullivan.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 1155 Main St., Wakefield, at 11 a.m. on Friday January 10. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Interment at Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose will be private.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Rita’s name by check, please write “Dr. Wolpin’s Giving Page” in the memo line, and send to: Giving Pages Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Division of Development and the Jimmy Fund, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Fl, Brookline, MA 02445 or online @ https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/TR?fr_id=1200&pg=team&team_id=3534
To send a message of condolence please visit www.gatelyfh.com
