Rita M. Guertin

Rita M. Guertin “Ri”, 33, of Ashburnham, died peacefully, Friday, December 11, 2020.

Rita was born in Fitchburg on April 8, 1987. Rita attended the Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District and obtained her GED. She earned a certificate as a Medical Assistant from the Salter School as well as receiving a certificate in Phlebotomy.  At the time of her death, Rita was a machine operator employed by GF Plastics of Sturbridge. She was a member of Saint Denis Church in Ashburnham.

Rita was well known in the addiction and recovery community and was always willing to help a friend. She volunteered and mentored many individuals in the organization PAACA (Positive Action Against Chemical Addition) in New Bedford for many years.  Rita was former angel of the Operation Hope Program at the Saco Police Department in Saco Maine as well as volunteering at the PRCC recovery network program in Portland, ME.  She was also a positive role model in the Beryl’s House in Worcester for many women.

Rita enjoyed her pets, going to the beach, hiking, and going on bike rides with her family. She was always willing to help anyone in need while always having a smile on her face showing how beautiful a person she really was. Her time spent with her family and friends, especially spending time with her nieces were the best times of her life.

Rita is survived by her father Gary A. Guertin and Theresa White of Ashburnham, her mother Heather E. (Tuckerman) Arsenault of LaQuinta, CA.  Besides her parents she leaves her paternal grandparents Ronald and Patricia Guertin of Gardner; a brother, Tucker Guertin of Westminster; a sister, Amy Edson and her husband Jared of Ashburnham; an aunt, Lori Guertin-Gaylord and her husband Ted of Gardner; three nieces Teagan, Alayna, and Harlow Edson; several cousins, great-aunts and uncles and friends.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, December 18, 2020, with a Mass at 11:00 a.m. in Annunciation Parish at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA. Burial will be held at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, 474 Clarendon Street, Fitchburg, MA.

Calling Hours will be private.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the A.E.D. Foundation Inc. 297 Central Street, Gardner, MA, 01440. Please reference in memory of Rita M. Guertin.