Rita C. BOURGEOIS

CHICOPEE - Rita C. (Bourgeois) Santos, 82, a Chicopee resident for more than 50 years, died Saturday in Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. Born in Ludlow, January 2, 1923, the daughter of the late Samuel and Louise (Bernard) Bourgeois, she was the wife of the late William "Gil" Santos who died December 31, 2002. Prior to her retirement in 1985, Rita had been employed as a cost accountant for the former Facemate Corporation in Chicopee for 10 years. She was educated in Ludlow Schools, graduated from Ludlow High School and has been a communicant of Holy Name Church since moving to Chicopee. She leaves a son, Kenneth G. Santos of Lebanon. OH, a daughter, Michele G. Kras and her husband Kevin of West Springfield, a brother, Ernest Bourgeois of Deerfield Beach, FL and a sister, Irene Blanchard of Midlothian, VA. Rita will also be missed by her 6 grandchildren, Melissa Kane, Alisson Johnston, Jennifer and Michael Kras and Anthony and Stephen Santos and her great-grandchildren, Makayla and Camerson Kane and Abigail Johnston. The funeral will be held on Wednesday morning at 9:00 at the Corridan Funeral Home, 333 Springfield St., Chicopee followed by Mass in Holy Name Church at 10:00. Burial will be in St. Aloysius Cemetery in Indian Orchard. Calling hours will be on Tuesday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Baystate Medical Center, c/o Dale Parenteau, Wesson Women's Unit, Springfield, 01199-0001. Published in The Republican on 12/5/2005.