Rita Mae Hayes, 87

Rita Mae (Boyce) Hayes, age 87, entered into rest peacefully on New Years Day 2013.  She was the beloved wife of the late Ralph L. Hayes, who died in 1988.

Rita Mae was born in Malden, Massachusetts, on December 13, 1925, a daughter of the late William and Frances (Berrigan) Boyce.  She was raised in Malden and graduated from Malden High School.  She married Ralph, and moved to Tewksbury in 1954.  She had wintered between Seabrook, NH, and Lake Worth in her retirement years.

Mrs. Hayes was employed by Microwave Associates in Burlington prior to retirement.

She is survived by four children, Cheryl Hayes of Alpharetta, GA, William Hayes and his wife Linda of Dracut, Nancy Merriman and her husband Eugene of Alpharetta, Georgia, and Donna DeFlumeri and her husband Michael of Sturbridge; four grandchildren, Amy Weaver of VA, Matthew Hayes of Haverhill, Brianne DeFlumeri of Sturbridge, and Katelyn DeFlumeri of Charlton; three great grandchildren, Ayden, Emma, and Elizabeth; a sister, Geraldine Enos; her long term companion, Jean Lavallee of Seabrook, NH, and Lake Worth; and several nieces and nephews.

At Mrs. Hayes' request, funeral services were private. Arrangements were through the Tewksbury Funeral Home.