Obituary of Rita Carmel Bohan

July 11, 1919 – January 9, 2017 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Rita (Mann) Bohan. She died peacefully surrounded by loved ones early Monday morning at home after a brief illness. She was born in Newcastle, New Brunswick in 1919, the third child and third daughter of Joseph Daniel Mann and Bridget (Loggie) Mann. Rita spent her early years trying to keep up with older sisters, Eunice (Carl Ernst) and Kathleen (called Kay). Subsequently, three younger brothers came along – Aloysius (Al), Kevin, and Harold. Rita attended St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church and graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in 1936. She was active in basketball and tennis. Living on the Old King George Highway remained a special memory for Rita. She often talked of swimming in the Miramichi, going to dances in Chatham, watching her mom bake pies, and running around with the family dog, Tobie. Her brother, Harold Mann of Moncton, noted at her 90th birthday celebration that Rita was the "prettiest girl in the Miramichi". Before marriage, she worked for the Town of Newcastle and JD Creaghans. A highlight of that time was the visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the present queen’s parents) to the town in 1939. Rita married Joseph Daniel Bohan, a Chatham native, in 1941 and they lived in Yarmouth, Deseronto, Sydney, St. John’s, and for many years Moncton. They had six children: Archbishop Daniel J. Bohan, Anita (Paul), Bernardine (Tim), Brian (Margie), Mark (Jay), and Carey (Judy). After the children had entered junior high, Rita went to work at the Catholic Information Centre with Fathers J. Morrison and B. Sloan and Sister Pat Callaghan. Rita was a quiet, gracious, and strong woman who was known for her baking, her Sunday dinners cooked with her husband, Joe, for all the family (and their families as time went on), for her beautifully knit afghans, and interest in family lore. In recent years she loved sitting in the sun on the back deck enjoying her garden, watching the flowers grow, and taking a keen interest in the birds that visited. Her children will remember her as a constant presence, a quiet force for good in their lives. Rita travelled with family members. Wonderful trips to London, Rome, the Rockies, the New England States, Toronto, Montreal, and Regina were taken. Of particular note was her visit to Rome where she attended the Pallium ceremony for her eldest son (the pallium is a marker of authority given to archbishops in the Catholic Church) and met Pope Benedict. Rita was predeceased by her husband, Joe, in 1996, by her parents, and by all her siblings and her grandson David, Her eldest child, Archbishop Danny Bohan, died last January – an ongoing sad event for all the family. Her sister, Kay, lived with her in the last few years and died last May at the age of 101. Rita is survived by her remaining five children, grandchildren (Paula, Justin, Jonathan, and Nicholas Meunier; Matthew and Christopher Moore; Katie and Rob Bohan; Peter, Erin, Stephen, and Michael Bohan; and Jeff, Brad, and Kristin Bohan; spouses of her grandchildren (Kevin, Stephanie, Tasha, Lizzie, and Allison), great grandchildren Noah Fisher (Paula), Daniel and Diane Meunier (Justin), Cullen, Alex, and Griffen Meunier (Jonathan), Victoria and William Moore (Christopher), and Josie Danielle Bohan (Rob), many nieces and nephews, and their families. Dear cousins Ray Lahay, Irene Loggie, and Monica Vickers still remain. Special thanks go to Rita’s housekeeper, Ginette Boucher, for 17 years of exceptional care of Rita. Also, we thank Rita’s other caregivers, Brenda, Lindsay, Melissa, Debbie, and Joan for their wonderful care. Rita’s faith sustained her through life. A memorable saying of hers, reflective of her acceptance of people, was "I know something good about you". Her extended family will deeply miss her. Visitation will be held from Tuttle Brothers and Riverview Funeral Home on Wednesday January 11, 2017 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday January 12, 2017 at 11:00 am at St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church, Mountain Road with family friend, Father Allison Carroll officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of your choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to Tuttle Brothers & Riverview Funeral Home 214 Pine Glen Rd. Riverview, NB (506) 857-9544 Online condolences can be made at www.tuttlefuneralhome.ca Visitation Information Jan 11, 2017 7:00pm-9:00pm Tuttle Brothers and Riverview Funeral Home, 214 Pine Glen Rd. Riverview, NB. Service Information Thursday, January 12, 2017 11:00am St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church, 340 Dominion St. Moncton, NB Burial Information Spring 2017 Our Lady of Calvary Roman Catholic Cemetery, Dieppe , NB. Requested Charity the memorial of the donor's choice.