Rita M. Duplessis

Rita M. Duplessis, 80, a longtime resident of Sanford, died February 28 at the Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford after a brief illness.She was born in Old Town on July 3, 1926, the daughter of Louis C. and Edna (Pelletier) Leavitt, attended Old Town Schools and was a graduate of Old Town High School.Rita had taught in the Head Start programs in both Sanford and Kennebunk.She was a communicant of Holy Family Church.Survivors include 6 sons, Richard Duplessis and his wife Carole of Bethel, David Duplessis of Waterboro, James Duplessis of New York, John Duplessis and his partner Pete Misiura of Waterville, Arthur Duplessis and his wife Linda of Cornish, Joseph Duplessis and his wife Darlene of Sanford, 3 daughters, Janice Dobson and her husband Peter of Portland, Elizabeth Dudley and her husband Richard of Sanford, Patricia Joyce of Limington, a brother, Raymond E. Leavitt of Old Town, 16 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 1:00 PM at St. Therse of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church in Sanford. Burial will be in the spring in Old Town. Arrangements are under the direction of the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale.Memorial contributions may be made to the Louis B. Goodall Library, 952 Main Street, Sanford, ME 04073. To leave the family a message of condolence, please use the Condolences tab at left.