Westfield- Rita D. Rodden, 94, (1923-2017) passed away on 
Thursday in Westfield. Born May 26, 1923 to the late George and Laudina (Guerin) Rodden, Rita was a lifelong resident of Westfield. She was a 1940 graduate of St. Mary’s High School, Westfield and a graduate of Our Lady of the Elms College. where she earned both her Bachelor and Master degrees. She was employed by the City of Chicopee School System as a 4th grade teacher for Westover Bowie and Selser School for 35 years where she was also a Vice-Principal. Rita was 1st Principal position at Valentine School for 1 year and Principal at Belcher school for 6 years and a Principal at Bellamy School for 18 years. She retired in 1991. Rita was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church, Westfield and was a volunteer for its annual Golf Tournament and a member of the parish development board. She was member of the Westfield Citizens Scholarship Committee; a member of the Sarah Gillett services for the Elderly; Grandmothers Garden and the Westfield, Athenaeum. Rita also was Past President of the Elms Alumni Committee, an Elms College Trustee and a member of its Living Legacy Committee. She was also a volunteer at Noble Hospital.
Rita leaves her beloved sister Evelyn Barthelette of Westfield, nieces and nephews and 2 very special people in her life, Ruth Bresnahan of Pompano Beach, FL and Susan McNulty of E. Windsor, CT. She was predeceased by her brothers George and Raymond Rodden and by another special person in her life, Mary Jane Landry of W. Springfield.
A liturgy of Christian burial will be held Friday at 10:30 am in St. Mary’s Church, Bartlett St. with burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, both in Westfield. Visiting hours are omitted. The Robert E. Cusack Funeral Home, Westfield is in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Parish, 30 Bartlett St., Westfield, MA 01085 or The Elms College, 291 Springfield St., Chicopee, MA 01013
