Rita A. Cullinane

Plaistow, NH: Rita A. (Moran) Cullinane, 76, a resident of Plaistow since 1989, died Thursday, July 12, 2012 at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill.

Born in Somerville, MA, and raised in Wilmington, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Agnes (Cleary) Moran. A member of the Wilmington High School Class of 1953, she attended Middlesex Community College.

Mrs. Cullinane retired from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Social Services, where she was employed for eighteen years in the legal department at Woburn, Arlington and finally Cambridge. She previously worked at Ingersoll-Rand and General Foods.

A former resident of Woburn, she was active in local politics and the Housing Authority Tenant Organization. She was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Woburn Council of Social Concern and a volunteer for the Board of Office for Children in Winchester.

A loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother, she was also devoted to her large extended family and to the many friends who will miss her.

She is survived by sons and daughter-in-law, C. Patrick and Sharon Cullinane of Northwood, and Reese A. Cullinane of Plaistow, a daughter and son-in-law,  Kathleen and Mark Westfall, of Plaistow, a brother Charles Moran of Plaistow, a sister Lois Gilby of Lehigh Acres, Florida, four grandchildren, Alexis Westfall, Ryan Westfall, Brett Westfall, and Avery Cullinane, two great-grandchildren, Jacob and Brayden Westfall, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two sisters, Claire Florence and Margaret Coakley.

Relatives and friends may call on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 from 6 to 7:45 p.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Plaistow, NH. Her funeral service will follow at 8 p.m. at the funeral home. A private family burial service will take place in Plaistow Cemetery at a later date. The family requests that memorial donations be made to The American Cancer Society, 2 Commerce Drive, Bedford, NH.