Rita Grant

LEWISTON—Rita T. Grant, 75, of Lewiston, passed from this life on Saturday, April 11, 2015 at Montello Manor Nursing Home in Lewiston, with her loving family by her side. Rita was born in Lewiston on March 8,1940 to Lionel and Laurette Chamberland. She graduated from St. Dominic High School in 1958. She married Raymond G. Ferron in July 1959, having four children together before ending in a divorce. She married Richard “Dick” E. Grant, Sr. on February 25, 1978. They blended and raised a family of 8, devoted to each other until Dick’s passing in 2013. Rita worked much of her life - While raising a family, she was employed in many Lewiston-Auburn Banks. A highlight of her banking career was managing an office at Casco Northern Bank, caring very much for the people who worked for her, running a smooth office for many years under her kind and knowledgeable direction. After Casco Northern Bank’s closing in the mid-1990s, she finished the remaining years of her banking career with TD Bank North until retiring in 2004. Rita also managed a successful Avon business, servicing numerous clients over 20 years and being awarded the Mrs. Albee award for sales in her last 10 years of her business. Rita was a very loving and generous woman who was highly regarded by those who had the pleasure of knowing her. She led her life with a deep faith, believing that all works out as it should. Her quiet sense of humor and ability to find the light in life’s darker moments never failed to uplift those around her. Rita’s greatest love in life was always her family. She loved decorating for any holiday and was happiest when they were all together to celebrate holidays and sharing in other family events. She enjoyed shopping trips with her daughters and was a proud hockey Mom, supporting and cheering for her son from grade school through Lewiston High School. She adored her grandchildren. She had a knack for finding just the right gifts and always found happiness when seeing their faces light up while opening them. Among Rita’s other passions was music - anyone entering her home could expect to hear country or gospel music emanating throughout the house. It was the last remaining passion that she was still able to enjoy and respond to as her Alzheimer’s disease progressed into its later stages. She became an avid NASCAR fan in her later years, spending many Sundays watching NASCAR races on TV with her husband, Dick. Rita is survived by her loving children: Debra Gagnon and her partner Vladimir Josephson, Michael Ferron and his wife Diane, Diane Charest and her husband Gary, and Lisa Ferron; her grandchildren: Joshua Charest and his wife Katie, Shane Morin, Eric Ferron, Lauren Jones and her husband Thomas, and Joshua Hansen and his wife Sorrell; her great grandchildren: Parker Charest and Addison Jones; her stepchildren: Richard Grant, Jr, Lori Mathers, Keri Lynch, Loni Warner and their families; many loved step-grandchildren and step-great grandchildren; her siblings: Jeannine Bergeron and her husband Emile; Raymond Chamberland ; Marcel Chamberland; her first husband, Raymond G. Ferron; many loved nieces and nephews and extended family. She was predeceased by her husband, Dick and both of her parents. Please visit www.thefortingrouplewiston.com to view a video memorial and to share condolences, memories and tributes with Rita’s family. Rita’s family would like to thank Montello Manor Nursing Home for the care given to her during her stay.

Visitation will be held on Thursday April 16th from 6 – 8pm at The Fortin Group Funeral Home, 70 Horton St., Lewiston. A Service will be held on Friday April 17th at 11am at The Fortin Group Funeral Home followed by entombment, for Rita and Dick, at St. Peters Cemetery Lewiston. The family respectfully requests donations be made, in Rita’s memory to Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter 383 US Route One #2c, Scarborough, ME 04074 or American Cancer Society, NE Division, 1 Bowdoin Mill Island, Suite 300, Topsham, ME 04086. A service of The Fortin Group Funeral, Cremation, & Monument Service, 70 Horton St., LEWISTON 784-4584