Rita M. (Houlihan) Diamantopoulos

WINCHENDON - Rita M. (Houlihan) Diamantopoulos, 90, of 30 Rolfes Lane, Newbury, a former long-time resident of Winchendon, died Friday morning, May 1st in Anna Jaques Hospital, Newburyport. She was born in Winchendon on February 18,1919, daughter of the late Michael J. and Margaret (Spillane) Houlihan and had lived in Winchendon for most of her life. She had lived in Newbury for the last two years. Rita was a telephone operator for the New England Telephone Co. for 21 years until her retirement. She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, the Red Hat Society and Telephone Pioneers of America. In 1937, she graduated from Murdock High School. She enjoyed bingo, board games, playing cards and crossword puzzles. Rita was also an avid walker. Her husband, Michael A. Diamantopoulos, died in 1969. She leaves three sons, Kerry J. Diamantopoulos and his wife Deborah of Mont Vernon, NH, Robert E. Diamantopoulos of Winchendon and Michael A. Diamantopoulos; five daughters, Susan E. Diamantopoulos of Newburyport, Carolyn R. Gagne and her husband Francis, formerly of Winchendon; Constance Catanese and her husband Richard of Harvard, Joan Gould of Los Angeles, CA and Martha Casavant of Winchendon; 15 grandchildren, several great grandchildren and several nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by a son, Peter W. Diamantopoulos, who died in 1977; four brothers, Maurice J. Houlihan, Michael J. Houlihan, Robert Houlihan and John Houlihan and two sisters, Margaret E. Bredberg and Helen K. Houlihan. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, May 4th at 11:30 A.M. in Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 52 Spruce Street, Winchendon. Calling hours will be held Monday, May 4th from 9 to 11 A.M. in the Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, preceding the mass. Memorial donations may be made to Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center, 2 Harris Street, Newburyport, MA. 01950. www.stone-ladeau.com