SANFORD – Rita M. Duplessis, 80, a longtime resident of Sanford, died Feb. 28, 2007, at Southern Maine Medical Center, Biddeford, after a brief illness. She was born July 3, 1926, in Old Town, the daughter of Louis C. and Edna (Pelletier) Leavitt. Rita attended Old Town schools and was a graduate of Old Town High School. Rita had taught in the head start programs in both Sanford and Kennebunk. She was a communicant of Holy Family Church. Survivors include six sons, Richard Duplessis and his wife, Carole, of Bethel, David Duplessis of Waterboro, James Duplessis of New York, John Duplessis and his partner, Pete Misiura, of Waterville, Arthur Duplessis and his wife, Linda, of Cornish, and Joseph Duplessis and his wife, Darlene, of Sanford; three daughters, Janice Dobson and her husband, Peter, of Portland, Elizabeth Dudley and her husband, Richard, of Sanford, and Patricia Joyce of Limington; a brother, Raymond E. Leavitt of Old Town; 16 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 1 p.m. Tuesday at St. Therese of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church, Sanford. Burial will be in the spring in Old Town. Arrangements are under the direction of the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main St., Springvale. Memorial contributions may be made to the Louis B. Goodall Library, 952 Main St., Sanford, ME 04073. To send the family a message of condolence, please visit www.blackfuneralhomes.com
RITA M. DUPLESSIS
