Rita Olivine (Pronovost) Moreau

Rita Olivine (Pronovost) Moreau of Willimansett passed away peacefully on November 7, 2021 at Mission Care in Holyoke at the age of 100. She was born in Holyoke on November 16, 1920 to the late Alfred and Laura (Leclair) Pronovost. Rita graduated at age 16 from Mt. Caramel High School and then graduated from Chicopee High School. She was an accomplished pianist who taught piano lessons and played for dance recitals and gatherings large and small. In 1942, she married her true love, Gerald “Curly” Moreau, and settled in Willimansett to start their family. Rita was a whiz with numbers and math from a young age, she was meticulously organized and detail-oriented, all of which gave her the skill set to help found and then manage the Credit Union at the former Uni-Royal (FISK) Tire Company in Chicopee Falls for many years.

Rita was predeceased by her loving husband of 69 years, Gerald Moreau (Pepere), her daughter, Karen (Moreau) Delosh and her husband Bill, her infant son, Richard, as well as her 5 brothers and sisters-in-law: Rene, Marcel (Phyllis), Donald (Shirley), Raymond (Rose, Barbara) and Roland (Anita) Pronovost. Rita is survived by her devoted son, Gerald Moreau, and his wife, Maryellen, of Easthampton. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Beth Luczynski and her partner Tony Hubbard, of West Springfield, Sheila Moreau of Easthampton, Kate Moreau Welch and her husband Brian of Springfield, Julia Lustenberger and her husband Steve of Westfield, Gerald Moreau and his wife Nora of Holyoke, and Nancy Fuller and her husband Bill of Southampton. In addition, she is survived by 8 cherished great-grandchildren: Lauren, Brandon, Gerald, Samantha, Casey, Declan, Cameron, and Ellie as well as many nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and nephews in both the Moreau and Pronovost families.

Rita’s life was defined by family, faith, and tradition. Her pride and joy was her family; her husband, children, parents, siblings, nieces, and nephews. She especially enjoyed her role as “Memere” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Whether it was Sunday dinners, school events, shows, sports, graduations, anniversaries, picnics, birthdays, or holidays-Memere never missed anything!

Memere’s Catholic faith was central to her life and she taught her family the value of prayer. She was an active member of the former Nativity Parish in Willimansett where she belonged to the Ladies of Saint Anne Sodality. Not only was Memere the family photographer and historian, she kept a detailed, daily, family diary for 70 years! Memere’s many stories about her father, her mother, her brothers as children, Pepere George’s farm, The Camp, as well as stories from her travels and from her career are favorites of all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Memere and Pepere, and their extended family spent summers in the 1950s and 60s at their Camp on Hampton Ponds. In the 1970s they started the tradition of Moreau Family Cape Week which in going on its 49^th year. Memere and Pepere enjoyed daily lunch and activities at the Chicopee Senior Center in their retirement. They traveled together to 48 of the 50 United States as well as to Canada and Mexico in their Winnebago as well as to many destinations with their grandchildren. Memere’s love and generosity for her family was unparalleled.

Special thanks to the staff at Mt. Saint Vincent Care Center (now MissionCare) for Rita’s excellent and compassionate care.

Family and friends are invited to Rita’s funeral on Friday, November 12 at 10:45 am from the Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home, 2049 Northampton Street, Holyoke, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12 noon at Saint Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Aldenville. Burial will follow in Notre Dame Cemetery, South Hadley. Calling hours will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, November 11 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Jericho, PO Box 1039, Holyoke, MA 01041-1039. https://www.jerichobeca.org/

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