Rita L. Ellis

Rita L. Ellis, 70, of Kennebunk passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday November 20, 2013. Rita was born in Sanford on July 3, 1943 a daughter of the late Albert and Louise (Dumont) Vallee. She graduated from Sanford High School in 1961.Following graduation Rita married and moved to Manchester, NH where she raised her two daughters. For several years she worked as an Administrative Assistance in the medical profession until earning her degree as a paralegal where she worked for several major law firms.In 1985 she married Charles Ellis who was also a resident of Manchester. In 1990 they moved to Orlando, Florida where Charles was assigned to the Kennedy Space Center as an Operations Technician. She branched out on her own as an entrepreneur in 2002 starting up her own retail shop in Dunedin, Florida selling chocolates and wine plus products from Maine. She earned the title of major distributor of Stonewall Kitchen products for the Tampa Florida area.She sold the business in 2006 to return to her home in Sanford. Rita retired after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2007. She loved the ocean, sunsets and collecting shells. She also loved to travel. She loved her children, and grandchildren.Rita had a flare for interior design, decorating her homes in Florida and Maine.Rita is survived by her husband, Charles "Skip" Ellis of Kennebunk, ME, daughters, Tina Kelly and her husband, Keith of Manchester, NH, Robin Caissie and her fiance, Stephen O'Dwyer of Strafford, VT, Brenda Baxendale and her husband John of Austin, TX, son, Christopher Ellis of Fresno, CA, sisters, Doris Thompson of Sanford, Linda McCann and her husband, Eric of Sanford, grandchildren, Breanne Ziemba, Zach Ziemba, Tray Fisk, Seanna Kelly, Ryan Kelly.Visiting hours for Rita will be on Sunday from 6 to 8PM at the Lafrance - Lambert & Black Funeral Home, 29 Winter Street, Sanford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 10AM at St. Therese of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church in Sanford. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider donations in Rita's memory to Hospice of Southern Maine, 180 US Rte One, #1, Scarborough, ME 04074 or to the Cancer Center of Sanford, 27 Industrial Ave, Sanford, ME 04073.Condolences may be expressed at www.blackfuneralhomes.com