RITA M. FERLAND GEORGIA, Vt. - Rita M. Ferland, 81, was called home to our Lord on Dec. 12, 2010, at home while surrounded by her loving family, following a courageous battle with cancer. Rita was born on Oct. 28, 1929, in Highgate, on the family farm, to the late Omer and Yvonne (Plante) Laroche. She attended schools in Highgate and St. Albans. On Oct. 30, 1948, she married the love of her life, Fabien J. Ferland, who predeceased her on Aug. 26, 2009, after 60 years of marriage. Rita and Fabien made their home on the farm in Highgate, which he purchased to start their lives and family together. They resided there until 1969, at which time they moved to Georgia, Vt., where they continued raising their family. Rita was an active member of the St. Louis Ladies of St. Anne's, the Highgate Home Dem, Ascension Parish, Ladies of the Knights of Columbus, the Georgia PTA, and the Georgia Lions Club. Growing up, Rita helped her parents on the farm. As a teenager, she was a member of the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary and had the honor of crowning the Blessed Virgin in a May celebration. Once married, in addition to being a homemaker, she created beautifully decorated cakes. She was a short order cook at Brunells Restaurant, which led to her joining her sisters in their catering business. Together Rita and Fabien made jams, pickles and crafts that they sold at local craft shows. Rita also enjoyed her travels with Fabien, trips with her "casino sisters," and organizing church dinners and craft shows. But the greatest joy of her life was gathering her family together for celebrations. Among her recognitions, she was crowned Mrs. Maple 1975, and she received the Melvin Jones Fellow and the Lion of the Year awards. With Fabien, Rita raised 14 children, Andre' Ferland (deceased), Lise and Gaston Gagner, John and Jane Ferland, Mariette and Gilles Messier, Louis Ferland (deceased), Daniel Ferland (deceased), Martha and Bernard Gagner, Ann and Ross Allen, Lucie and Claude Fortin, Sylvia and Michael Gagne, Carol and Stephen Baitz, Joyce and David Fitzgerald, Estelle and George DeCell, and Nicole and Corey Noel. Rita's 32 grandchildren are Jeannine Gagner (deceased), Patrick Gagner, Andrea Blaney, Robert Gagner, Steven Gagner, Michelle Cameron, Angela Pandis, Michael Ferland, Shantel Thomas, Rachel Preston, Lynn Tetreault, Cheryl Askay, Brian Messier, Sara Poplawski, Abbie Gagner, Travis Allen, Kami Farr, Kristin Delehanty, Daniel Fortin, Ashleigh Quackenbush, Alain Fortin, Brooks Gagne, Joshua Gagne, Kali Gagne, Brianna Gagne, Matthew Baitz, Allyson Baitz, Levon Fitzgerald, Sage DeCell, Schuyler DeCell, Andre Noel, Emily Noel. She has 24 great-grandchildren. Rita is also survived by brothers and sisters, Armande and Pamphile Tremblay, Maurice Laroche, Aline Bouchard, Claire Menard, Denise and Roger Rainville, and Norman Laroche; sisters and brothers-in-law, Cecile Laroche, Sister Cecile Ferland SSJ, Cecile and Henry Laroche, Father Martin "Felix" Ferland (of the Marionite Monks), Clement and Gloria Ferland and Douglas Gale; and many nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, Rita was predeceased by brothers, George and Marcel Laroche; and sisters and brothers-in-law, Anita Laroche, Juliette Laroche, Ida Laroche, Philip Bouchard, Claude Menard, Theresa Gale, Marguerite and Normand Larose. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 at 10 a.m. at Ascension Church in Georgia, Vt. Immediately following the Mass, interment will be at the Ferland Family lot in the St. Louis Cemetery in Highgate, after which a luncheon will be served at the Elks Club in St. Albans. Family and friends may call at the Brady and Levesque Funeral Home, 86 South Main Street, St. Albans on Friday, Dec. 17, 2010 from 4 to 8 p.m. Arrangements are entrusted to the Brady and Levesque Funeral Home and Commemorative Services. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Norman Ward, Dr. Steven Ades, and their staff at Fletcher Allen for the wonderful care they gave our Mom, and to the staff of Franklin County Home Health and Home Instead Senior Care. In lieu of flowers, donations in Rita's memory may be made to the Ascension Parish Scholarship Fund, 246 Lake St., St. Albans, VT 05478; the Marionite Monks of Adoration, 67 Dugway Road, Petersham, MA 01366-9725; or Sisters of St. Joseph, c/o Sister Cecile Ferland, SSJ, 4975 Strickler Road, Clarence, NY 14031-1444. Online condolences may be directed to the family at
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