Rita C. Cortez
LOWELL Rita C. (Morrison) Cortez, 87, a lifelong Lowell resident, passed away after a brief battle with cancer Wednesday, November 26, 2014 at Lowell General Hospital. She was the widow of the late Frank P. Cortez who passed away in March of 1997 after 48 years of marriage.
A daughter of the late George and the late Ernestine F. (DeForges) Morrison, she was born February 25, 1927, in Lowell, and attended St. Patrick’s Grammar School and graduated from Lowell High School, Class of 1945.
She made her lifelong home in Lowell, and worked in the Piling Shoe Shop before becoming one of the ‘Mill Girls’ at the Merrimack Mill where she worked as a winder until her marriage when she stopped working to raise her family. After her children were in school, she returned to the workforce, working mothers hours and later retired from Rosenblooms Paper. She then worked part time in the Cafe Bake Shop in Chelmsford.
Rita enjoyed crocheting, knitting, sewing, cake decorating, bowling, playing cards and bingo at the Senior Centers, and trips to Foxwoods. She was also a member of the 541 Emblem Club in Chelmsford and the Volunteers in Action Club. Rita volunteered for the Community Teamwork Senior Volunteer Corps., and received numerous awards for her kindness and assistance given to the community. Above all, she cherished time spent with her family.
She is survived by her children, Frank P. Cortez and his wife, Pamela of Nashua, NH, Corrinne R. Jabczanka and her husband, Thaddeus ‘Ted’ of Londonderry, NH, and Brian K. Cortez and his wife, Anne of Tewksbury; her grandchildren, Kimberly Girouard and her husband, Keith, and Lauren Jabczanka; her great grand daughter Isabella Girouard; her brothers, James Morrison of Florida, Arthur Morrison and his wife, Claire of Amherst, NH, and Robert Morrison and his wife, Vilai of Fayetteville, NC; her sister, Alice Beaulieu of Nashua, NH; and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her beloved grand dogs, Sassy, Jakelyn, and Ellie.
She was also the grandmother of the late James Jabczanka and Laura Jean Cortez; and sister of the late Mary Morrison, Fred Morrison, Edward Morrison, George Morrison, John Morrison, Janet Allaby, and Jackie Boland.
YOU ARE INVITED TO HER CALLING HOURS FROM 2-5 & 6-9 P.M. ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5 AT THE MCDONOUGH FUNERAL HOME, 14 HIGHLAND STREET, LOWELL 978-458-6816. ON SATURDAY, HER FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD IN THE FUNERAL HOME AT 10 A.M. BURIAL IN ST. JOSEPH CEMETERY. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, MEMORIAL DONATIONS IN HER NAME MAY BE MADE TO THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CENTRALIZED MEMORIAL PROCESSING CENTER, 30 SPEEN STREET, FRAMINGHAM, MA 01701 OR TO THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOC. OF MA/NH, 480 PLEASANT STREET, WATERTOWN, MA 02472. PLEASE VISIT WWW.MCDONOUGHFUNERALHOME.COM TO SEND THE FAMILY AN E-CONDOLENCE.
