Rita Elizabeth Curtin

Rita Elizabeth Sullivan Curtin\nRita was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, on March 13, 1920 to Charles and Mary Sullivan. She had two brothers, Paul and John Sullivan and a sister, Trudy Ann. She graduated from Haverhill High School in 1938, and then on to Boston for Secretarial college. She married Ed Curtin, a childhood friend from Haverhill, in 1942. He was her "life-long" love. They married right after Ed enlisted in the Navy. World War II was raging and while she following him to many ports of call in the States, when he was deployed overseas she stayed in San Francisco and worked, until he returned and they moved to Washington, DC, where they would remain for over 50 years.\nShe was a devoted wife and the mother of three children: Kathleen Rita, Michael Edmund, and Marese Ann (Teri). While her children were small she worked part-time for an insurance underwriter. Later, she took a job working in the House of Representatives, which eventually led her to the Senate. She worked for Senator John Stennis from Mississippi, and then for Senator Mike Mansfield, the then Majority Leader of the Senate. She was known by everyone - from other Senators, their staff, pages, and even the Capitol Police - as an exceptional secretary and a wonderful person. She worked on the "the hill" for over thirty years. During that time she saw Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Bush elected and was invited to all the Inaugurations. \nIn retirement she and Ed volunteered for the Meals on Wheels organization in Southeast Washington, DC, where the need was great. Even in the worst snow storms, Rita and Ed would see that the people they cared for received their meals. \nRita loved spending days at their camper on the Patuxent River at Solomon's Island, Maryland. Rita called it her "vacation home" and loved to walk the dogs on the beach, while Ed would "drive her crazy" catching bushels of blue crabs. They made many dear friends there and provided wonderful memories for their children and the grandchildren.\nWhen Ed was diagnosed with cancer, she cared for him with the help of her son Michael. Ed passed away in September of 2002, two days before their 60th Wedding Anniversary. She missed him so.\nAfter selling the house in Bradbury Heights, where Rita and Ed had lived for over 40 years, she went to live at the Morningside House Assisted Living in Waldorf, Maryland. In November of 2007, she moved to Governors Glen Assisted Living in Forest Park, Georgia - close to her daughter Kathy's home. Her nickname, no matter where she lived, was "Buttercup". She got that nickname because she always said "merci buttercup" in place of thank you.\nRita was the proud grandmother of five and the great-grandmother of eight. Known by them as "Nanny", she was very proud of her family, and loved to have them all together. Rita is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and friends.\nShe passed away peacefully in her sleep in Georgia. She was a sweet and kind woman with a great sense of humor. She was loved by all and will be missed very much. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Rita Elizabeth Curtin please visit our Sympathy Store.