Rita Hickey
Montville — Rita A. Hickey, 80, of Montville, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 19, 2018.
She was the wife of Normand J. Hickey. They had been married for 58 years. Mrs. Hickey was born in Manville, R.I., to the late Joseph Ernest and Marie A. (Lussier) Paul.
On April 19, 1959, Rita reluctantly went to a motorcycle race with a girlfriend. There, she asked the handsome rider who won the race for his autograph, and Normand and Rita were married eight months later on Jan. 2, 1960.
Rita worked as a seamstress for Standard Romper in Rhode Island prior to her marriage. As husband and wife, Rita and Normand became hard-working business partners and successfully operated Hickey, Inc., in Montville for over 40 years. They owned multiple properties throughout Montville which Rita managed as Rita Hickey Rentals until 2015. She was well respected as a businesswoman and by all who knew her.
Her early years were filled with dancing, rollerskating and spending time at the beach with friends. As a working mother she made clothing for her four young daughters and later knitted scarves and hats for her granddaughter who she also taught to knit. She resumed her love of dancing later in life with Irish step and country line dancing.
Rita dedicated herself to her husband, Normand, as an unwavering caregiver as he fell ill, always true to her vows, “in sickness and in health.”
In addition to her loving husband, she is survived by her daughters, Denise Hickey of New London, Kelley Cooper and her husband, Brian, of North Stonington, Karen Bencivengo and her husband, Frank, of Niantic, and Kimbra Hickey of New York; and her granddaughter, Julia Marquardt. She also leaves her brother, Roger Paul and his wife, Pauline; numerous nieces, nephews and godchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 2, 2018, at Our Lady of the Lakes Church, 752 Norwich-Salem Turnpike, Oakdale. Burial will immediately follow at St. Patrick Cemetery, Uncasville. There are no calling hours.
Donations in Rita's memory may be made to the American Cancer Society.
To view the online obituary please visit http://www.montvillefuneralhome.com.