Rita Claire McCarthy passed away peacefully at age 91, on December 22, 2011 at Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill. She was born in Cambridge, MA, to the late Anthony and Inez (Fitzpatrick) McCarthy. She graduated from St. Joseph's High School in Somerville, where she lived on Clark St. for 50 years. She then lived in Melrose (on Aaron St. then in the Cochrane House) for 38 years, and in Emeritus assisted living in Tewksbury for her last 3 years. Rita was a bookkeeper for Finest Grocery Stores for 17 years, worked for several attorneys, and retired as a Statistical Typist after 25 years of service in the Massachusetts State Deptartment of Revenue. She was an active volunteer, first during WWII for the USO, then the Red Cross, and then in Our Lady's Sodality in St. Joseph's and later, with the Ladies Sodality at St. Mary's Church in Melrose. Rita enjoyed traveling, especially to Florida, California, and Hawaii. She also enjoyed attending musical performances, singing, knitting, gardening, and baking. Rita was proud that she had lived her life "doing what was right." She was the longtime caretaker, first of her widowed mother, and in later life, of her younger widowed, ailing sister. She was predeceased by her parents; her two sisters and brothers-in-law, Loretta and Joseph Hannibal and Gertrude and Melvin Bousman; her Goddaughter, Jean Toto; and her lifelong partner, Charles McDevitt. She is survived by her beloved nieces and nephews-in-law, and nephew and niece-in-law: Marie and Ande Albert; Barbara and Edward Allen; Edward and Margaret Hannibal; and Anthony Toto. Also, by several great nieces, great nephews-in-law, and great great nieces and nephews, especially these: Melanie, Emmanuel, Audrey Claire, and Owen Govignon; Amanda, Kirk, and Katelyn Marie Krause; and Jennifer Toto. And lastly, by her good friend, Mary Cail. Visitation will be held at gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St. Melrose on Thursday, June 21st from 8:30-9:30AM. Followed by a funeral mass in St. Mary's Church, Herbert St., Melrose at 10AM. Relatives & friends are invited to attend. Interment to follow in Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden. Flowers are welcome. Donations in Rita's memory may be made to her favorite charity, The Marist Fathers', The Lourdes Center, Box 15575, Boston, MA 02215-2594, or the Merrimack Valley Hospice House, 360 North Ave, Haverhill, MA, 01830.