Rita Frances McDonnell

Rita Frances (Fox) McDonnell, 93, formerly of North Providence, passed away peacefully on February 18, 2014 surrounded by her family in Sarasota, Florida. She is now joyfully reunited with her adoring husband, George W. McDonnell, who previously entered eternal life in December of 2013. She is survived by her beloved daughter, Dr. Anne Marie Vale and her husband, Michael, of Sarasota. Rita was the daughter of the late Mary Ellen (Murray) Fox and John A. Fox, formerly of Providence. She was predeceased by her 5 loving sisters, Marguerite E. Fox, Mary E. Baker, Regina A. Fitzgerald, Madeline G. Collins, and Sister M. Quentin Fox, O. P. Rita is also survived by 18 beloved nieces and nephews. In her younger years, Rita lived on Ruggles Street in Providence and always loved to reminisce about the wonderful times she shared with neighbors and friends from the Smith Hill community. Rita was forever proud of her Irish heritage. She graduated from St. Patrick's High School in 1936 at the tender age of 16 and then went on to complete a secretarial program at Bryant College in 1938. Rita proudly shared her birthday, April 23rd, with the late Shirley Temple Black- a fact that she was always very proud to state. She was a generous, loving, and selfless person who had a particular fondness for children. In fact, Rita was a surrogate mother to countless children through the years, having volunteered her services as a parish catechist at St. Augustine's Church in Providence and also as a weekly assistant in the first and second grade classrooms at McGuire School in North Providence. Rita was employed as a secretary throughout her career, first having worked for Tourtellot Produce in Providence, followed by a stint in the engineering division at Veterans Hospital where she met her beloved husband, George, and finally, in the Accounting Office at Rhode Island College. George and Rita both attended daily mass and were communicants at St. Augustine's Church for over 50 years. An inextricable, inspirational bond of love existed between George and Rita, who were especially devoted to one another during their 56 years of marriage. Rita highly valued her membership in the Rosary and Altar Society, as well as in the Mount Pleasant Senior Citizens and the North Providence Senior Citizens. She shared a great passion for line dancing for many years. Her intelligence, sense of humor, hearty laugh, quick wit, and humble demeanor will always be fondly cherished by friends and family. In the last few years of her life, Rita enjoyed using French expressions, which she learned in French classes at St. Patrick's High School. Her favorite saying was "Merci beaucoup," which she graciously expressed several times a day to family and friends, as well as to her countless compassionate caretakers. Consequently, Rita earned the affectionate nickname of "Merci Beaucoup"- indeed an appropriate name. In return, those of us who were touched by her generous spirit want to thank God for the gift of Rita in our lives. Now it seems fitting to say to her in return, "Merci beaucoup, Rita. We lovingly entrust you to the everlasting embrace of God, your heavenly Father." Rita's funeral will be held on Monday, February 24, 2014 at 8:30 am, from the Russell J. Boyle & Son Funeral Home, 331 Smith Street, Providence. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 am, in Saint Augustine Church, Mount Pleasant Avenue, Providence. Interment will be in the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Exeter. Visiting hours will be on Sunday, February 23, 2014 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Rita's memory can be made to the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy at Eden Hill, 2 Prospect Hill Road, Stockbridge, MA 01263 or by visiting the web site at www.thedivinemercy.org. For directions and on-line condolences, visit: boyleandsonfuneralhome.com.