Rita A. Stowell

Rita A. (Manseau) (Mercier) Stowell, 102, of Gardner, died peacefully in her sleep, Sunday, November 10, 2019, in Wachusett Manor Nursing Home, Gardner, after a brief illness.

Born in Gardner on May 25, 1917, she was the daughter of the late John and Florida (Allaire) Manseau. She graduated from Gardner High School with the Class of 1935. She owned and operated Laura’s Fish and Chip of Gardner for 11-years. She was a cafeteria manager employed by Simplex Time Recorder for approximately 15-years before retiring in 1982.

She was a member of Annunciation Parish/ Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church of Gardner, where she was very active in its annual Bazaar, and making meat pies to help support the church and its school. She loved to cook and had a gift for making scrumptious apple pies; she enjoyed knitting, especially mittens. She especially loved and cherished the time she spent with her family, especially her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

Rita leaves two daughters Anne Marie McMilleon of Gardner, and Lorraine Marion of Gardner; three sons Alfred E. Mercier and his wife Rachel of Pineville, Louisiana, George N. Mercier and his wife Linda of Spring Hill, Florida, and Leon P. Mercier and his wife Ella of Swanzey, NH; three step-sons Harold Stowell of Wendell, Alan Stowell and his wife Karen of Westminster, and Eugene Stowell of Santa Clarita, California;  many grandchildren and step grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Donald Manseau and his wife Janet of Cherry Valley, MA and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was predeceased by her first husband, Samuel Mercier who died in 1975, her second husband, Donald Stowell who died in 2009; two sons Phillip E. and Robert L. Mercier; one step-son Phillip Stowell; seven brothers Paul, Edward, Leo, George, Norman, Roger, and Robert Manseau; four sisters Doris and Lorraine Manseau, Madeleine Arsenault and Blanche Woodcome.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, November 15, 2019, from the Boucher Funeral Home, Inc. 110 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA with a Mass at 11:00 a.m. in Annunciation Parish/ Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA. Burial will follow at Notre Dame Cemetery, West Street, Gardner, MA.

Calling Hours will be held Thursday, November 14, 2019, from 5:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. in the funeral home.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Annunciation Parish, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA 01440. Please reference in memory of Rita A. Stowell.