PORTLAND — Rita Girardin Pelletier, 93, a longtime resident of Topsham and Brunswick, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 15.

She was born Sept. 1, 1917, in Livermore Falls, the son of Pierre and Lea (Duguay) Girardin. Educated in her younger years in Lewiston, Rita was a 1936 graduate of Livermore Falls High School, and was instrumental in leading her school to the state basketball championship. Rita was also selected as an All-State forward basketball player and Maine’s foul-shooting champion. She was also featured in a Maine history of basketball book.

Rita married Richard D. Pelletier of Topsham in 1940, and made her home there for 68 years with her husband and five children.

She was a communicant of St. John the Baptist Church in Brunswick, and a member of the Daughters of Isabella.

She worked for the Topsham schools, Second-Hand Rose shop and was a volunteer in many organizations, including being a Girl Scout Leader. Through personal and family tragedies, Rita always maintained her positive spirit for life, strong faith and a wonderful sense of humor. Rita will always be remembered and honored as a loving, giving and devoted mother, aunt, Memere, and Grande-Memere.

Rita is survived by two sons, Richard Pelletier Jr. and wife, Carol, of Lake Worth, Fla., and David Pelletier and wife, Vicki, of Centennial, Colo.; and one daughter, Jill Allen and husband, Neal, of Portland; 10 grandchildren, Dennis, Amy, Scott, Laura and Michael Pelletier, Nicole Taylor, Brittany Sanders, and James, Reed and Anastasiya Allen; and 10 great-grandchildren, the last being born the day before she passed away.

She was predeceased by her husband of 70 years, Richard, in March 2010; a son, Dennis Pelletier, in 1970; and a daughter, Julie Sanders, in 2002; six brothers, Lewis, Gerard, Roland, Joffre, Valmore and Norman Girardin; and three sisters, Marguerite Jean, Ann Breach and Lola Clark.

Rita’s family would like to specially thank the staff of Unit A at St. Joseph’s Manor in Portland. The compassion and love that was given Rita in her last few months by her care-givers was extraordinary.

Messages of thoughts and condolence may be sent to www.brackettfuneralhome.com.