Obituary for Rita A. Pinder (Davey)
Rita A. (Davey) Pinder, 87, a longtime Westford resident, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 23, 2023 at her home. She was the beloved wife of the late Paul J. Pinder with whom she shared 46 years of marriage until his passing in 2002.
She was born in Lowell on July 8, 1935 and was a daughter of the late Capt. Thomas and Mary (Shannon) Davey.
Rita lived a full and fun life as a mother and a teacher! She attended the St Patrick’s School system in Lowell graduating from St. Patrick’s High in 1952. During her youth she was a superior athlete and was said to be one of the greatest women’s softball players in New England during the mid-50’s. She also coached the Lowell recreational women’s softball team during this period. She went on to attend Lowell State Teachers College graduating as a licensed educator in 1956. She completed a master’s degree in education and had many credits toward her PhD at Fitchburg State. Following graduation from Lowell State she went on to teach in the Arlington, Billerica, and Chelmsford school systems before settling in as the 5th grade teacher at the Hugh J. Malloy School in the Highlands section of Lowell where she taught for over 30 years. She wrapped up her teaching career as an “English as a second language” (ESL) teacher for the newly arrived Cambodian students at the Bailey Elementary School in Lowell. This was a group of students she loved working for. She always noted their strong work ethic and their interest and ability to pick up the English language. She was extremely proud of her career and accomplishments as a teacher. She retired in the mid-1990s and went on to a quiet life taking care of her husband Paul, her grandchildren, and her beautiful home in Westford. She also enjoyed spending time with friends and family at her beach retreat in Hampton NH. Rita and Paul also became world travelers during retirement with many trips to Europe and the Caribbean. She became ill with Alzheimer’s about 10 years ago and began to find it difficult to stay in touch with friends and at some point even family. It was a quiet end to a great life.
Rita leaves her children, James Pinder and his wife Sonya of Westford, and Ellen Wright and her husband Gary of Chelmsford; her grandchildren, Brian Wright of Chelmsford, Hannah Wright and her fiancé Matthew Saraceno of Nashua, NH, Naomi Wright of Boston, and Portia Pinder of Westford; her siblings, Thomas Davey and his wife Ruth of Dracut, and Kathleen Casey and her husband Michael of Andover; and her brother-in-law, Albert Milne of West Palm Beach, FL. She is also survived by several dear nieces and nephews.
Sadly, Rita is predeceased by her sister, Elaine Milne.
Visiting hours will be held on Monday, March 27, 2023 from 9 – 10 am at the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 11 am at St. Mary Parish, 25 North Rd., Chelmsford, following the visitation. Interment in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Lowell. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Rita’s memory to: Grammy Rose Dog Rescue & Sanctuary at grammyrose.org/donate or Middlesex Community College Student Scholarships at middlesex.mass.edu/foundation/donations.
She was born in Lowell on July 8, 1935 and was a daughter of the late Capt. Thomas and Mary (Shannon) Davey.
Rita lived a full and fun life as a mother and a teacher! She attended the St Patrick’s School system in Lowell graduating from St. Patrick’s High in 1952. During her youth she was a superior athlete and was said to be one of the greatest women’s softball players in New England during the mid-50’s. She also coached the Lowell recreational women’s softball team during this period. She went on to attend Lowell State Teachers College graduating as a licensed educator in 1956. She completed a master’s degree in education and had many credits toward her PhD at Fitchburg State. Following graduation from Lowell State she went on to teach in the Arlington, Billerica, and Chelmsford school systems before settling in as the 5th grade teacher at the Hugh J. Malloy School in the Highlands section of Lowell where she taught for over 30 years. She wrapped up her teaching career as an “English as a second language” (ESL) teacher for the newly arrived Cambodian students at the Bailey Elementary School in Lowell. This was a group of students she loved working for. She always noted their strong work ethic and their interest and ability to pick up the English language. She was extremely proud of her career and accomplishments as a teacher. She retired in the mid-1990s and went on to a quiet life taking care of her husband Paul, her grandchildren, and her beautiful home in Westford. She also enjoyed spending time with friends and family at her beach retreat in Hampton NH. Rita and Paul also became world travelers during retirement with many trips to Europe and the Caribbean. She became ill with Alzheimer’s about 10 years ago and began to find it difficult to stay in touch with friends and at some point even family. It was a quiet end to a great life.
Rita leaves her children, James Pinder and his wife Sonya of Westford, and Ellen Wright and her husband Gary of Chelmsford; her grandchildren, Brian Wright of Chelmsford, Hannah Wright and her fiancé Matthew Saraceno of Nashua, NH, Naomi Wright of Boston, and Portia Pinder of Westford; her siblings, Thomas Davey and his wife Ruth of Dracut, and Kathleen Casey and her husband Michael of Andover; and her brother-in-law, Albert Milne of West Palm Beach, FL. She is also survived by several dear nieces and nephews.
Sadly, Rita is predeceased by her sister, Elaine Milne.
Visiting hours will be held on Monday, March 27, 2023 from 9 – 10 am at the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 11 am at St. Mary Parish, 25 North Rd., Chelmsford, following the visitation. Interment in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Lowell. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Rita’s memory to: Grammy Rose Dog Rescue & Sanctuary at grammyrose.org/donate or Middlesex Community College Student Scholarships at middlesex.mass.edu/foundation/donations.