Obituary of Rita A. Robert

NORFOLK- Rita A. Robert, age 86, a resident of St. Joseph's Home in Ogdensburg and formerly of Norfolk, passed away, peacefully, early Sunday evening Feb. 4, 2018 at St. Joseph's Home. She had been a resident there since November of 2015.

Rita was born on February 11, 1931 to the late Ernest and Catherine Tellier in Tupper Lake, NY. She attended Holy Ghost Academy and worked as a candy striper, store clerk, and waitress in her early years.

Rita met her sweetheart, Leon, a NY State Trooper, while waitressing at Mason's Restaurant in Tupper Lake in November of 1950. Rita and Leon were married on May 11, 1952 at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Tupper Lake. They spent 64 years together and raised 5 children. In addition to her role as wife, mother and grandmother, Rita was a food service worker for 25 years for the Norwood-Norfolk School District. She began her career as a cafeteria monitor and retired as a cook/manager of the Norfolk Elementary School cafeteria. Rita was a devout catholic. She was a long-standing member of the congregation of the Church of the Visitation in Norfolk, a long-time member of the Altar and Rosary Society as well as Right to Life, and taught religious education classes in her early years. She volunteered at the annual, Church of the Visitation Fall Bazaar each October, worked at the annual Summer Social, helped organize and worked at the annual rummage sales, and was always available to lend a helping hand. Rita was a member of Birthday Club, Ladies Home Bureau, T.O.P.S. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), and the Norfolk Senior Citizens "Jolly Agers" Club. She collected Beanie Bears, crocheted afghans for family and friends, gardened, had a keen eye for bargains at garage sales, rummage sales, and church bazaars, and was an excellent home cook.

Rita is survived by her twin daughters, Janet Robert, Webster, NY; Susan and Howard Hawkins, Sun City Center, FL; daughter, Donna and Terry Francis, Bradenton, FL; son, Leon Jr. and Amy Robert, Amarillo, TX; and daughter, Carol Robert and David Horne, Kemptville, ON, CA; her three grandsons; Christopher Francis, Marshall Robert, and John Robert, as well as a number of nieces and nephews. Rita is pre-deceased by her husband, Leon, as well as her 4 brothers; Walter, Donald, George, and Ronald Tellier.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Rita will be held Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of the Visitation in Norfolk with Rev. Msgr. John Murphy presiding. Burial will be held in the spring at the Visitation Cemetery. Family and friends may call at the Buck Funeral Home in Norfolk on Friday, February 9, 2018 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Donations may be made to St. Joseph's Foundation in Rita's memory and memories and condolences may be shared online at www.buckfuneralhome.com .