MILLINOCKET – M. Rita Kelleher, 84, died Nov. 15, 2006, at a Millinocket hospital. She was born Dec. 31, 1921, in Orono, the daughter of Franklin and Gertrude (Daley) Cowan. She is loved and remembered by a family who will miss her dearly. Rita attended Orono schools, graduated from Orono High School and attended Husson College. In 1941, she married her high school sweetheart, Bartholomew H. Kelleher, and they had 30 wonderful years together. In 1942, they had the first of their six children, Carolyn, who married Lyman Bucklin. They then had Martha, who married Clifford Bouchard, Mary Kathryn, who married Dean Kinney, now deceased, and Suzanne, who married Byron Pineau. Six years later, they had their first son, Bartholomew H. Kelleher, III; and their second son, Peter, three years later. Rita and Bart took a six year old girl, Carla Dicentes Pelletier, into their home after her parents were killed in an accident, whom they loved as their own daughter. She leaves two brothers, Charles Cowan of Old Town and Herbert Cowan of Orono, whom she loved dearly. She also has 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, who have given her much pleasure; many nieces and nephews; and two dear friends who lived beside her at the lake, Real and Rose Marie Dechenes. In addition to her husband and her parents, she was predeceased by a brother, John Cowan. In 1946, the Kellehers bought the Bragdon Funeral Home, Millinocket, and 10 years later opened the first funeral home in East Millinocket. In 1971, her beloved husband, Bart, died and having served two years apprenticeship under her husband, the Maine State Board of Funeral Service gave Rita, along with one funeral director, the privilege of running the funeral homes, which she did until she sold them four years later. Rita was a long time member of St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, was a 25-year past member of the Daughters of Isabella and was past president of the Philharmonic Club. Her greatest pleasure was spending her summers at Millinocket Lake, with her family around her. Friends may call from 7-9 p.m. Thursday and 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Friday at Clay Funeral Home, 7 Lee Road, Lincoln. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church. Interment will be at Millinocket Cemetery. For an online register book, please visit www.clayfuneralhome.com
M. RITA KELLEHER
