Obituary of Rita Mary Lashenske

Rita Mary Lashenske, 87, of West Hartford, died Sunday, January 10, 2021 at St. Joseph’s Residence in Enfield.  Born in Athol, MA, she was the daughter of the late Ernest and Marcella (Kersavage) Lashenske and had lived in West Hartford for over 70 years.  Rita was a graduate of Mount St. Joseph Academy, Class of 1951.  Early in her career she was employed at G. Fox and Co., but most of her working life she spent with Avon and was a proud Avon Lady.  A deeply religious person, she was a life communicant of St. Mark Church, West Hartford, a 3^rd Order Carmelite, and a member of the Catholic Daughters.  An avid amateur painter, with a flair for religious art, she was a member of the West Hartford Art League and the West Hartford Garden Club.  She loved the tradition of participating in the Wadsworth Atheneum’s Festival of Trees and Traditions.  Rita was also an avid traveler, with her travels often religious in nature, among her trips, she had made pilgrimages to the Holy Land, Rome, and Fatima.  She is survived by her sister Teresa Lashenske MacDonald of Manchester; and was a wonderful aunt to all of her nieces and nephews and their families.  She never missed sending birthday cards, complete with Avon Bubble Bath of course. Due to the circumstances of the pandemic, a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated privately with burial at Gethsemane Cemetery in Athol, MA.  The family would like to thank the staff and sisters at Saint Joseph’s Residence for their great care, both physically and spiritually. In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Joseph’s Residence, 1365 Enfield St., Enfield, CT 06082.   The John F. Tierney Funeral Home, Manchester has care of the arrangements.  For online condolences please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome.com.