Rita B. Thiery, 79, of East Hartford, beloved wife of 55 years to Howard J. Thiery, Jr. died Sunday (March 18, 2012) at St. Mary's Home, West Hartford after a valiant fight with cancer. Born in Hartford, on March 10, 1933, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Irene (Ahern) Burns, was raised in the North End of Hartford and had lived in East Hartford for the past 51 years. She graduated from St. Michael's Grammar School and Mt. St. Joseph Academy in Hartford, and received a bachelor's degree from St. Joseph's College in West Hartford. Rita retired as a teacher from St. Bridget School Manchester, and was a longtime Director of Religious Education at Our Lady of Peace Church East Hartford. She was an avid gardener and had a great love for Point O Woods, the Boston Red Sox and UCONN Huskies. Besides her husband, she is survived by her children; Mary T. Blackwell and her husband Richard of Dracut, MA, Jane T. Adinolfi of Cheshire, Howard J. Thiery III and his wife Erin of West Hartford, Sarah T. Poirier and her husband Michael of East Hartford, and Daniel E. Thiery and his wife Catherine of Stratford, and thirteen beloved grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings, Edward Burns of Newington, J. William Burns of West Hartford, Raymond Burns of Newington, and Jane Hurley of Vermont, and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her son-in-law Justin Adinolfi, her brother Joseph Burns and sister Patricia Everin. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday (March 22nd) at 10 am at St. Christopher Church 538 Brewer St. East Hartford, CT followed by burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, Glastonbury. Family and friends may call at the John F. Tierney Funeral Home 219 West Center St. Manchester on Wednesday from 4-7 pm. For online condolences please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome.com.