Rita L Templeman

Rita Lucile Templeman, 101, of Snow Hill Farm, Gibbs Road, Blandford Massachusetts, died Wednesday March 1, 2023, at Missionaries of Charity Gift of Love in Bronx, New York. She is the wife of the late James G. Templeman, a former 12-year teacher at Holyoke Vocational High School, a veteran of WWII, and who died April 15th, 1980. The daughter of the late William and Odinia (Bedard) Lamoureux, Rita was born Marie Yvette Rita Lamoureux in the Compton Estrie Region of Quebec, Canada on April 15, 1921. She had seven sisters: Edwedge Roberts, Irene Gauthier, Germaine Gamache, Doris Griffith, Fabiola Tetreault, and Jennette Paul, and two brothers Armand and Lucien Lamoureux. Rita met James and married in 1938. In 1956 they moved to their long-time residence on Snow Hill Farm, Gibbs Road and lived and worked the land and livestock heard together until James’ death in 1980. Rita continued their legacy by herself for another 42 years selling hay to local patrons and sharing her energy and love for life with friends and neighbors from all over the area until 2020 when her health compelled her to move to stay with the Missionaries of Charity in New York. Rita loved gardening, farming, snow shoeing, going to the YMCA to exercise, cross country skiing and the outdoors. She was a member of the Camel Clubs and was a conservationist who loved nature and wildlife. Rita is survived by her two daughters Marion R. Templeman (Sister Marita Pia) of Missionaries of Charity Gift of Love Bronx, NY, and Gail A Wyman of Floral City, Florida: Three grandchildren James (Bethie) and Brian (Heather) Wyman also of Floral City, Florida and April DeStefano (Robert) of Spring Hill, Florida, and five great grandchildren and her close friend and caretaker, David St. Laurent of Blandford. Rita’s funeral mass will be Monday March 13, 2023, at 11AM from St. Thomas Church with burial to follow in Island Pond Cemetery in Ludlow. The Toomey-O’Brien Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.