Rita L. Beeso

She was born in Marlborough, NH, November 26, 1926, the daughter of Mary (Harper) and Arcade “Jack” Joyal. She spent her early childhood in Marlborough, later moving to Keene where she was a graduate of Keene High School.

Mrs. Beeso’s work career started at the former Princess Shoe Company in Keene. She then worked for several years with the former A.E. Martel Company in Keene. Prior to retirement, she worked in the school lunch programs at the Keene Middle School and at St. Joseph Regional School in Keene.

Mrs. Beeso was a parishioner of St. Bernard Church in Keene and a longtime member of the Ste. Anne Sodality and the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary. She was a former member of the Catholic Daughters of America Court Josephine No. 319.

She enjoyed traveling with her friends and spending summers at the family cottage on Granite Lake. She also enjoyed square dancing and was an avid bingo player.

She is survived by a daughter, Claudette M. Russell of Spofford, NH; two grandchildren, Robert A. Russell, II and his wife, Rebecca, of Newton, NH, April A. Pongitory and her husband, Marc, of Quakertown, PA; and many nieces and nephews. Her husband of 66 years, G. Michael Beeso, whom she married in St. Bernard Church on June 18, 1945, died February 27, 2012. She was predeceased by two brothers, Lawrence “Cheeman” Joyal and Richard Joyal; and a sister, Claire Sullivan.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 11:00 AM in St. Bernard Church, 185 Main Street, Keene. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Main Street, Keene. There are no public calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mrs. Beeso’s memory to the Monadnock Humane Society, 101 West Swanzey Road, West Swanzey, NH 03446; or to St. Vincent dePaul Society, c/o Parish of the Holy Spirit, 161 Main Street, Keene, NH 03431, or to Sol Amor Hospice, 170 South River Road, Bldg. 2, Bedford, NH 03110.

The Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene, NH is assisting the family with the arrangements.