Born April 2, 1920 in Taftville, Connecticut, Rita was the youngest in a Franco-Canadian family of ten children. Along with a large contingent of relatives, she arrived in Maine at the age of 9, and attended schools in and around North Whitefield. Rita, her mother, and several brothers and sisters joined the Seventh-day Adventist church around this time, and she remained a fervently faithful member all her life.
Orphaned at sixteen, she was offered a home with church friends and a job as a chauffeur; thus began a lifelong love of cars and of driving. Later, Rita was proud to support the World War II effort by working in a munitions factory. She married and had two sons, but found herself on her own with the boys in the late 1940s. She resettled in Pownal, Maine, where she met and married Felton Pervier, an adoring husband she always called “my angel” with whom she raised her boys, two more sons, and three daughters.
Rita loved music and had a strong, beautiful singing voice. Over the years she entertained at many a church party with her yodeling and accordion-playing and contributed many an inspirational song to worship services. During the 1960s, as a member of the Portland, Maine, congregation, she directed the choir and felt particularly privileged to lead the massed choir at the regional campmeeting. Singing was always a part of family gatherings, and her talent and musical influence has reached down the generations.
In the mid 1960s the family moved to Brunswick, where Felton’s construction business was centered. Rita opened a business of her own, Colonial Homestead Furniture. They purchased Sunnybrook Farm, located near the West Bath line on the shores of Moose Pond. The children grew up, but returned here with their kids and partners for unforgettable Christmas holidays and summer vacations. Rita was delighted to host skating parties, a big Beaulieu family reunion and several weddings at her Sunnybrook home.
Years later, the farmhouse was the model — in spirit and in design — for a new structure in that same spot: Sunnybrook Village Retirement and Assisted Living Community, operated by Rita’s son Rick and his wife Shuree. Felton and Rita were its first residents and, as the community grew, Rita would keep an eye out for unfamiliar faces, habitually inviting new people to share a meal with her in the dining room.
Throughout the years Rita and Felton deeply valued their church affiliation. They also loved to travel the country to all the places their children had moved to in pursuing professions and raising families. At age 67, Rita proudly fulfilled a long-held desire to attend college by enrolling in several classes at Southern New Hampshire University’s Brunswick campus. She was a formidable foe in horseshoes as well as Rook, and relished the bluster and teasing in the front yard and around the game table. An avid Red Sox fan, she was always eager for the return of baseball season after the winter break, even traveling to attend spring training games in Florida.
When Felton became ill in mid-life, Rita was a truly devoted caregiver. When he passed away, she struggled with her grief, but found solace in her profound faith in God. She collected and created words of sustaining wisdom, scattered throughout notebooks and posted on her refrigerator. She would often smile and profess an “attitude of gratitude” about her blessed life and the Lord’s goodness to her. Her dear husband was not the only beneficiary of the caring impulses of Rita’s big heart. Throughout her long life she was generous with her attention to others, especially those who most needed encouragement, a kind word, or a sense of belonging. Even in recent weeks, at nearly 93 years of age, Rita loved to see friends and meet new people, enveloping them in her warmth.
Rita is survived by an extensive family: Sons Jerrold Emery and his wife, Lyn; Rick Emery and Shuree; Felton Pervier, Jr. and Alan Liska; Rod Pervier and Lois; and daughters Linda Pervier; Susan Pervier Zork and her husband, Stephen; and Loretta Pervier Grant and Larry. Her grandchildren and their offspring are: Lisa Emery McPherson and John, and children Kali, Hannah and Sarah; Sherry Emery Long and Tim and their children Alexander and Jordan; Michael Emery and Sophie Bergstrom and their children Madison, Brady, Michaela and Taylah; Mark Emery and Debbie and their children Preston, Megan, Daniel and Stacie; Denise Emery Hudgins and Chris and their children Cody and McKenna; Scott Emery and Beth and their children Michael, Elizabeth and Lucas in addition to their grandson, Connor, Rita’s great-great-grandchild; Jason Emery and Jennifer; Rebecca Emery vonDorpowski and Brian and their children Brandon and Michael; Debby Emery Tapia and Sam and their children Zachary, Nathan and Amanda; Allison Emery Graves and Scott and their children Eli and Sophie; Jason McGhee; Shannon McGhee Gamero and Guillermo and their children Lila, Ariana and Isabella; Nicholas Zork and Noelia; Benjamin Zork and Mirka; Jasmine Zork Good and Ben; Timothy Zork and his fiancée Cindy Thompson; Lindsey (Grant) Crawford and Scott and their children Kylie and Avalon; and Gabriel Grant.
Services will be held at the Seventh-day Adventist Church at 333 Maine Street, Brunswick, Maine. Visiting hours are 6-8 p.m. on Friday, March 15 and the funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 16. If desired, friends may make gifts in Rita’s memory to Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in care of: Seventh-day Adventist Church, 333 Maine Street, Brunswick, ME 04011.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of Brackett Funeral Home, Brunswick (www.brackettfuneralhome.com).
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