Rita A. (Duhamel) Laplante

Rita A. (Duhamel) Laplante, 86, died Sunday, January 8, 2023 at Concord Hospital in Laconia, NH, surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of the late Raymond J. Laplante, with whom she enjoyed 58 years of marriage until his passing in 2013.

Born in Lowell on August 22, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Annette (Lavoie) and Arthur Duhamel. Rita and Raymond raised their five children in the Pawtucketville section of Lowell. After Lowell they moved to Derry for 20 years, later to Bow and eventually retiring down in Winter Haven, FL.

Rita after her children were grown started working as a waitress, loved the HSN network, was a member of the Red Hat Society in Florida and enjoyed singing in the choir.

She spent a lot of time bringing her grandchildren up to camp at Lake Willoughby. She would take them for walks to collect cans to cash in to then buy candy at the camp store. They always looked forward to her late night TV programs and eating Heavenly Hash ice cream. Rita always hosted holidays at her house and the granddaughters looked forward to dressing up in her silky clothes, costume jewelry and playing hide and go seek in her secret closet space, while the boys played outside. She loved spending time with them all and couldn’t wait to hold them and celebrate them all!

Rita is survived and will be deeply missed by her four children, Rose-Marie Laplante-Olvera of Roseville, CA, Ronald Laplante and his wife Barbara of Winter Haven, FL, Raymond Laplante and his wife Debbie of Derry, NH and Rachel Laplante of Gilford, NH; her thirteen grandchildren, Joshua Laplante, Raymond Laplante, Ryan Laplante, Eric Cassel, Christopher Olvera, Desiree Holland, Vanessa Olvera, Catrina Laplante, Mary Hume, Ricky Laplante, Caitlyn Laplante, Stephanie Espinal-Cabrera and Amanda Thomer; her 22 great-grandchildren; her one great-great grandchild; her sister, Henriette Laferriere of Lowell; her brother, Rene Duhamel of Iowa; as well as several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband Raymond, Rita is predeceased by her oldest son, Richard Laplante and her siblings, Yvette Deming, Andy Duhamel and Emile Duhamel.

Relatives and friends are invited to Rita’s Life Celebration on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 from 4 until 8 PM at the McKENNA-OUELLETTE FUNERAL HOME, 327 Hildreth Street, Lowell. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday at 10 AM in St. Rita’s Church, Lowell. Burial will be held privately.