Obituary of Rita Theresa (Cote) Lussier

Rita T. (Cote) Lussier, 90, of Peabody, died early Thursday morning at the Sunrise Assisted Living Center Peabody with her family by her side. She was the wife of the late Richard Lionel Lussier who died two years ago. Rita was born in Salem, MA on June 26, 1928 the daughter of the late Emile and Diana (Dube) Cote and was raised there and resided in Peabody most of her life. She had a love of water and the ocean and had been a Safety Water Instuctor at the Salem YMCA for many years. She also ran the Lifeguard program at Brown’s Pond for the City of Peabody during the sixties and enjoyed Scuba Diving. Later she was a bus driver for the Peabody Public School system. She and her husband had enjoyed boating and had been members of the Palmer Cove Yacht Club in Salem. They cruised on their boat from Salem to Melbourne, Florida for many years. They also enjoyed traveling and traveled across America in their trailer. Her most treasured time was spent with her family. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Raymond and Louise Lussier of Tewksbury, MA, two daughters and sons-in-law, Janice and Thomas Hallinan of Peabody and Nancy and Michael Perry of Amesbury, her 6 grandchildren, Deborah Destler and Suzanne Quirkner both of L.A., Calif;, Emily Lussier of Tyngsboro, Kevin Hallinan of Beverly, Justin Perry and Dana Perry DeFranco and her husband Salvatore all of Haverhill; her 5 great grandchildren, two sisters-in-law, Mabel Cote of Salem NH and Mary Cote of Salem, MA and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her siblings, Edward, Lou and Raymond Cote, and Blanche Thibault. A Visitation will be held on Sunday from 4:00 until 7:00 PM at the Conway,Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home at the 82 Lynn St., Peabody facility. Her Funeral will be held on Monday at 9:00 AM from the funeral home followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Ann’s Church, Lynn St., Peabody at 10:00 AM. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., Suite 102-B, Danvers, MA 01923 in her memory. For guest book and directions, please visit www.ccbfuneral.com.