Rita P. Fennessey

Portsmouth, RI - Rita Fennessey, of 2788 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI, died on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at Rhode Island Hospital.She was the wife of the late Thomas Joseph Fennessey Sr. Born in Fall River, MA on May 13, 1918, she was the daughter of Edward F. Murphy and Elizabeth (Madden) Murphy.Rita graduated from St. Joseph College in West Hartford, CT and married Thomas in 1940 and they settled in Portsmouth. After her children were all in school, she began her teaching career in Fall River. She taught for over 35 years, primarily the First Grade. Rita was resident of East Main Road in Portsmouth since the early 1930s, and a communicant of St. Anthony's Church. Music always filled her with joy, and she enjoyed playing the piano, singing and dancing. Over the years, she and her husband also travelled frequently. She is survived by four children, Thomas Fennessey of Little Compton, RI, Sharon Fennessey of North Kingstown, RI, Kevin Fennessey of Portsmouth, and Karen Black of St. Petersburg, FL, as well as 11 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.Her funeral services will be held on Monday, February 4, 2013 with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am in St. Anthony's Church, 2836 East Main Road, Portsmouth. Burial will be in Our Lady of Fatima Cemetery, Little Compton, RI.Arrangements by Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Rd, Portsmouth, RI 02871. Cemetery Details Our Lady of Fatima Cemetery South Commons Road Little Compton, RI, Service FEB 4. 10:00 AM St. Anthonys Church 2836 East Main Road Portsmouth, RI, US, 02871