Rita A. (Lynch) DeCoste, of Melrose, died at the Golden Living Center The Elmhurst on Sept. 30, 2016 at the age of 98. Rita was born Chelsea, raised in Melrose and a graduate of St. Mary's High School. Before having her children, Rita worked at Scully Signal in Melrose and R.H. White department store in Boston. Rita was a lifelong Melrose resident and member of St. Mary's Church in Melrose & St. Mary's Ladies Sodality for many years. She was an avid reader and loved to take care of her grandchildren. Rita enjoyed baking, music, ballroom dancing and playing piano. She was the beloved wife of the late Robert DeCoste for 58 years. Loving mother of Robert G. DeCoste & his wife Linda of Billerica, Beverly F. McNaught & her husband Stephen of Stoneham, Deborah A. Gray & her husband Gardner of Billerica and Lynnette R. Alameddine of Saugus. Cherished grandmother of Jeannine Reardon, Jerelyn Newman, Jonathan Gray, Suzanne Thistle, Robert DeCoste, Joel Gray, Stephen McNaught, Jr., Jocelyn Allan, Yvonne Alameddine and the late Ross Alameddine. Caring sister of the late Geraldine Gillcrist, Mary Mahoney, Eileen McCarthy, Flossie Smith, Ed Lynch and Francis Lynch. Also survived by 13 great grandchildren and many nieces & nephews. Visiting hours will be held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St., Melrose on Tuesday, Oct. 4th from 4-7PM. Funeral from the Gately Funeral Home on Wednesday, Oct. 5th at 9AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mary's Church, Herbert St., Melrose at 10:15AM. Relatives & friends respectfully invited to attend. Burial in Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Ross Alameddine Scholarship Fund, c/o Austin Preparatory School, External Affairs, 101 Willow St., Reading, MA 01867.