Rita (Fortune) Smith SUNAPEE — Rita Christina (Fortune) Smith of Mountain View Lake, Sunapee, New Hampshire, died peacefully at Woodlawn Care Center on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, at the age of 95 years old. She was born Jan. 28, 1926, seventh of nine children, to Daniel Fortune and Amanda (Larouche). She married the love of her life, Leroy Ervin “Smitty” Smith Jr. (deceased). They had two daughters, Nancy Fellows (deceased) and her husband, Merlin (deceased), Lynda Richardson and her husband, Bruce; five grandchildren, Christina Harbour and her husband, Lance, Michael Fellows, Melanie Sartwell and her husband, Craig, Corina Ouellette and her partner, Ken Mello, Darlene Dodge and her husband, Jeremy; seven great-grandchildren, Brandon Odell and his wife, Amy, Kayla Brehio, Kristofer Maley, Candice Mason and her husband, Roz, Samantha Lacaillade and her husband, Nicholas, Brianna Dodge, Alexis Ouellette; six great-grandchildren, Brayden Maley, Weston and Wyatt Brehio, Dawson and Oliver Odell, Nicholas Lacaillade Jr.; all of her nieces, nephews, extended family and great friends. Rita loved life and was a very strong woman with incredible faith. She worked several jobs in her lifetime, Her favorite was owning her own restaurant on Route 103 for nine years, “Rita’s Restaurant.” This was a family-run restaurant; she was the short order cook, and yes, I mean literally. She loved all of her customers and they loved her. She loved to fish on Mountain View Lake where she grew up and lived her life. She also enjoyed entertaining, playing piano, singing, crafts, bowling, golfing, bingo, word search puzzles and cards (especially the monthly Texas Hold ‘Em poker games). She was the life of the party everywhere she went; she had quite the stories and jokes to tell. She loved everyone at her church (St. Patrick’s). She will forever be in our hearts and when you think of her, I know it will make you smile. She will be very missed here on this earth. Rita (Grams) (Meme Lake), until we meet again in heaven … Viewing will be held at Newton-Bartlett Funeral Home, Newport, New Hampshire, on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 1 p.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Newport. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Rita’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to any of the following wonderful places: Newport Senior Center, Newport, New Hampshire; New London Hospital, New London, New Hampshire; Lake Sunapee VNA, New London, New Hampshire; and Woodlawn Care Center, Newport, New Hampshire. To sign an online guestbook, please visit www.newtonbartlett.com Newton-Bartlett Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
As your daily newspaper, we are committed to providing you with important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas.