Obituary of Rita Lena Peets

Funeral Services for Rita Peets, age 82, of Tupper Lake, will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at with Deacon Gerald Savage officiating. Calling hours will be held from 12:00 PM up until the time of the service at Frary-Stuart Funeral Home, Tupper Lake.  Mrs. Peets passed away on Friday, November 8, 2019 at Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake.

Rita is survived by her daughter, Patricia Phillips; her two sons, Mike Peets and his wife, Gwen; Alan Peets and his wife, Temple; four grandchildren, Griffin Peets, Danielle Robinson, Erin Phillips, and Lauren Phillips; one great-grandchild, Jolie Robinson; and one sister, Marianne Savage.  She is predeceased by her parents; her husband, Clarence Peets; and her brother, Carl Perth.

Rita was born on September 23, 1937, in Tupper Lake, the daughter of Renee and Deliska Samure Perth.  She graduated from Tupper Lake High School. Rita met her husband, Clarence “Pete” Peets at Johnny’s Candy Land, a soda fountain in Tupper Lake. They were married July 14, 1956 at the Holy Name Church. They lived at 23 Emma St. until Clarence was shipped to Germany, where he lived on base until Rita joined him. They moved off base and lived in Miabach, a small town which had three cars, one owned by Clarence and Rita and a second owned by Ham and Pat Ferry, close friends of the Peets’.  Upon return to the states, the took up residence in Tupper Lake where they raised their three children and remained for the rest of their lives. 

For many years, Rita was an X-ray technician at Mercy Hospital and kept up her credentials long after she retired. 

Rita enjoyed knitting, baking, working on puzzles, and was a very talented seamstress. In addition to her flower garden, she always had tomatoes growing on her porch as soon as spring rolled around. 

Donations in her memory can be made to St. Alphonsus Holy Name of Jesus Parish Church, 48 Wawbeek Ave., Tupper Lake, NY 12986.