Rita P. Kennann, 94, from Cypress, CA, daughter of Valentine (Ross) and Edouard Parisee, joined
our Lord, February 28, 2018.
Rita was born March 23, 1923, in Fall River, MA. She graduated Durfee High School, and attended Business School. She worked at the American Thread in Fall River, and was a Dental Technician in Providence, RI. She was a member of the Watuppa Grange 365, in Westport, MA. Rita played piano and was an occasional vocalist with her husband, Alban J. Vezina, Sr’s. band at the Pocasset Country Club in the late 50s through 1962. In 1962 she and the family moved to Long Beach, CA when her husband Alban joined the Long Beach Municipal Band, as solo cornet. In 1963 the family moved to Cypress, CA.
Rita was a 25 year John Hancock Insurance employee in their Long Beach, Whittier and Anaheim offices. After retirement, she worked for the Better Business Bureau in Cypress, and attended Cypress College classes in Art History, Drawing, Piano, and Literature.
She took care of her husband Alban for 30 years, from 1968 to his passing in 1998, after his car was struck by a drunk driver and he was left a Brown Secord Quadriplegic. In 1983 Rita became a conservator for her son, Alban, J. Vezina, Jr., a Staff Sergeant in the Marine Corp., when he was left disabled from a brain aneurysm, after an 11 year career.
In 2001 she married John E. Kennann. They enjoyed Ballroom dancing and dining with friends at the Elks Club. John passed in 2007 from Parkinsons. Rita was a member of St. Irenaeus Parish in Cypress since 1963. She attended musicals and loved dining out at her favorite restaurants with her children, Arline and Alban, and visiting relatives. She travelled back to Fall River with Arline and Alban Jr., to visit family, and also travelled to New Orleans during Papa Noel, to enjoy the culture, the incredible food and museums.
Rita is survived by dedicated and loving daughter, Arline P. Vezina, Anaheim, CA; and sisters-in-laws Theresa (Leo) Vezina, Fairfax, VA and Blanche (Edward) Parisee, Westport, MA. Rita was pre-deceased by her son, Alban J. Vezina, Jr., on December 9, 2016. She was the sister of the late Rose/Ed Lesnick, Loretta McCormick, Irene/Frank Brady, Doris/Grover Shurtleff, Bernadette Schmidt Debus, Leo/Charlotte Parisee, Armand/Jean Parisee, Edward Parisee, Peter/Ann Ross, and Pauline/Wallace Tripp. Also many nieces and nephews in CA, CT, HI, MA, NJ, NY, and VA.
A Vigil will be held at Funeraria del Angel Anaheim, on March 12, 2018 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at St. Irenaeus in Cypress, March 13, 2018 at 8:30 a.m., followed by a graveside memorial at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Orange.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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