Rita D. LAPOINTE

RITA D. HUNT SHELBURNE/WINOOSKI — Rita D. Hunt, 81, of Shelburne passed away Monday, Feb. 28, 2005. She was born in Winooski, April 7, 1923, the daughter of the late Euclide and Lea (Rabidoux) Lapointe. She was a 1941 graduate of Winooski High School, where she excelled at both academics and sports, and attended Burlington Business School (now Champlain College), and UVM. She married James N. Hunt of Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1946, with whom she had two sons, James Jr. and Thomas Alan. In 1959, Rita began employment with General Electric in Burlington. She received numerous professional awards and company commendations during her 26- year career and retired as manager for equal employment opportunity. Rita was a natural leader and had a great heart for giving. She served on the Board of Directors for Chittenden County United Community Services, and was active in the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Vermont Coalition for Health, and in Junior Achievement. She was appointed by three different governors of Vermont to statewide advisory boards including the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women. In February 1980, she was invited to the White House and participated in meetings representing Vermont's women in business. Rita also worked tirelessly in behalf of the mentally ill and their families. She was a cofounder of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Vermont and in 1986 served as its president. She served on the Board of Directors of Howard Mental Health Services (now Howard Center for Human Services), was named a Citizen-ofthe-Year by the Vermont Association for Mental Health, and was a recipient in 1992 of the Burlington Rotary Club's Unsung Community Volunteer Award. She was a frequently-sought speaker and appeared before conferences, legislative bodies, public service agencies, corporations, and schools. When asked about her accomplishments, her response was always to cite the efforts and support of others. Rita was irrepressibly optimistic and valued personal integrity above all. She was a wonderful and caring mother, grandmother, and aunt, and gave much for love of family. Rita is survived by her beloved husband, James; her son, James Jr. and daughter-in-law Elizabeth, and their children, Stephen, Elizabeth, Caroline, Heath, Laura, James III, Aurelia, Thane, Wesley, Leeanna, Lydia, Arthur, and Thomas. She also leaves her devoted grand- daughters, Karen (Hunt) Simpson and Roberta Goldstein; her brother-in-law, Wesley Hunt; and sisters-in-law, Lois Hunt, June Best, and Cathryn Lapointe; and her nieces and nephews, June Plante, Roland (Butch) Lapointe, Michael Lapointe, Bruce Lapointe, Kathy Santerre, David Lapointe, Michelle Lapointe, Daniel Lapointe, Leah Shewmaker, Cheryl MacIver, and Carol Frick, and their spouses and children. She will be deeply missed. She was predeceased by her beloved son, Thomas; and by her brothers, George “Zum“ Lapointe, Ralph Lapointe, and Roland Lapointe. There will no visiting hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Chapel of St. Michael's College, Colchester, Saturday, March 19, at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Howard Center for Human Services, 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3J, Burlington, Vt. 05401. Arrangements are with the LaVigne Funeral Home, 132 Main St., Winooski.