Rita Jean (Hackett) King

Rita Jean (Hackett) King, 88, passed away peacefully on May 8, 2023 with her loving family by her side.

Rita was born in Pepperell, MA on April 20, 1935. She was the daughter of the late Edson M. Hackett and Alice Madeline (Leary) Hackett. Rita was a graduate of Pepperell High School Class of 1953. She was employed by Bemis Bag Inc. in Pepperell where she met and later married the love of her life, Harold King, with whom she shared 58 years of marriage. She worked for several years at Godin’s 5 & 10 and then worked for Babineau’s Pharmacy until her retirement. She was a communicant of Our Lady of Grace Parish worshipping at St. Joseph’s Church, Pepperell.

Rita and Harold enjoyed traveling with their friends to the Islands. Some of her favorite pastimes were reading and watching the birds gather at her feeder, but most of all spending time with her family, friends, and neighbors. 

Rita was predeceased by her husband Harold in 2016. She is survived by four daughters and one son, Cynthia and husband Maurice Lavoie of Mirror Lake, NH, Patricia and husband Dana Chartier of Athol, Diane Phillips and companion William Ducharme of Shirley, Pamela Hawkins of Sterling, and Harold J. King Jr. and wife Tracy of Billerica; thirteen grandchildren: Amber, Eric, Heather, Blake, Nick, Adam, Stephanie, Nicole, Samantha, Heidi, Tim, Jason, and Brian; and 32 great-grandchildren. 

She was predeceased by two sisters, Mary Stevenson and Mildred Bushey, and one brother, Leonard Hackett.

Relatives and friends will gather at the McGaffigan Family Funeral Home, 37 Main St., (Rte. 113) Pepperell, MA on Tuesday, May 23rd from 10 – 11 a.m. Rita’s Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Grace Parish worshipping at St. Joseph’s Church, 28 Tarbell St., Pepperell, MA at 11:30 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Pepperell. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org) or to Our Lady of Grace Parish, “In Memory of Rita King”, 28 Tarbell St., Pepperell, MA 01463.  

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