Hudson – Rita F. (Freitas) Melo, 77 of Hudson, died Friday, Jan. 25, 2013 at Marlborough Hospital. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Victorino G. Melo of Hudson.
Rita was born and raised in Santa Maria, the Azores of Portugal, daughter of the late Antonio Teodoro and Maria Jose (Melo) Freitas. She resided in Santa Maria until moving to Hudson in 1974. She spent a short time from 1981 to 1987 residing in Artesia, CA until moving back to Hudson in 1987.
She was employed by the Bose Co. in Framingham for 10-plus years until retiring in 2010. She was a member of Saint Michael's Parish in Hudson.
Rita was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who enjoyed reading in her spare time. She enjoyed spending time with her family and will be greatly missed.
Besides her husband, she is survived by her children, Jose Antonio Melo and his wife Maria, David Melo and his wife Denise, Fernando Melo and his wife Lurdes, Ines Cabral and her husband Tony, Almerinda Carreon and her husband Victor, Aida Chaves and her husband John and Angela Masters, all of Hudson and Esperanca Stevens and her husband William of Millbury. She was predeceased by her son, Joao Melo in 2011 and daughter, Maria J. Symonds in 2003. She is also survived by her sister, Teodora Freitas of Santa Maria, Portugal; 23 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, Jan. 28, at 9:00 a.m., in Saint Michael's Church, 21 Manning St., Hudson. Burial will follow in Saint Michael's Cemetery of Hudson. Family and friends may attend calling hours Sunday, Jan. 27, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., at the Tighe-Hamilton Funeral Home, 50 Central St., Hudson.