Rita Mae Lacasse Raymond

Rita Mae (Lacasse) Raymond, 93, of Glastonbury and formerly of East Hartford, peacefully journeyed home on Friday, August 22, 2014 at Salmon Brook Health Care Center, Glastonbury. She was the loving wife of 64 years to the late Roland A. “Buddy” Raymond. Born in Plainfield on May 15, 1921, a daughter of the late Joseph and Amelie (Gravelin) Lacasse, she was the youngest of twelve children, six of whom lived to adulthood. Rita grew up in Woonsocket, RI where her father owned a grocery store, and she graduated from Woonsocket High School, Class of 1938. In 1953, they moved to Hartford with their two sons, Paul and John, and she worked as a waitress and cashier for many years at area restaurants in downtown Hartford (E.J. Korvette, Grant’s, Brown Thompson, and Sage-Allen). In 1977 she moved to East Hartford and was an active communicant of Blessed Sacrament Church where she was a member of the Ladies Guild, Rosary Group, and Bible Group. She also volunteered delivering “Meals on Wheels” to area residents. She enjoyed bowling in area leagues, cooking, and traveling. Besides her beloved husband and parents, she was predeceased by her oldest son, Paul J. Raymond and his wife, Jeanne, of Bristol; four brothers and one sister.

Rita is survived by a caring son, John G. Raymond and his wife, Emily; two step-grandchildren, Heather Koch and Christopher Nelson; a special niece, Sandy Dart and her husband, Don; and many other nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends. Rita loved Frank Sinatra and like Frank, she will be remembered for doing it her way.

Funeral services will be Friday (August 29th) at 9:45 am from the D’ESOPO-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10:30 am at Blessed Sacrament Church, Cambridge Drive, East Hartford. Burial will be at Hillstown Road Cemetery, Manchester. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home chapel on Thursday (August 28th) from 4-6 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Rita’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, CT Chapter, 2075 Silas Deane Hwy, Suite 100, Rocky Hill, CT 06067. Rita’s family would like to extend their sincere gratitude and appreciation to Masonicare Hospice Care and all the staff and friends at Salmon Brook Health Care Center for their professionalism, care, compassion and love given to Rita and her family. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com.