Concord, NH – Rita M. Shaughnessy ( née Sutherby), of Concord, New Hampshire, formerly of Naples, Florida and Framingham, Massachusetts, entered into eternal rest Monday, February 15, 2021. She was 85.

Rita was a proud mother of 10, grandmother of 24, great-grandmother of five going on many in 2021. She was a mother to almost everyone she met, and held the spouses of her children, affectionately called "the out-laws," close to her heart. She was a treasured aunt to scores of nieces, nephews, their spouses and children.

Rita is predeceased by her beloved husband of sixty years, Frank Shaughnessy. Theirs was a long-lasting, unquestionable love; they raised their brood in deep Catholic faith, music, and a lot of noise. They spent their early years of marriage in Somerville, MA before moving to Stoneham, and then to Framingham, where they lived for 31 years. In their retirement, they enjoyed a snowbird lifestyle between their homes in Naples, FL and Concord, NH. Rita spread her wings wherever she went, forming strong bonds of friendship with some very fortunate women. Marie, Marilyn, Yo (Yolanda), Marion, and Silvia in particular were her touchstones in various stages of her life.

Rita is predeceased by her oldest son, Stephen F. Shaughnessy, who departed in 2014 at 56, which broke her heart and reinforced her faith. Rita was the youngest child of Bert and Elizabeth Sutherby of Somerville, MA, who gifted her with five older siblings – her best friends - who all went before her to heavenly rest: Mary (Noonan), George, Gert (Marshall), Frank and Al. Her siblings all had lifelong marriages, giving Rita five additional siblings. She is predeceased by George's Estelle, Frank's Mary, Gert's John, and Al's Kathleen. She is survived by her kind, generous and gentle brother-in-law, Dan Noonan.

Rita is predeceased by her Shaughnessy in-laws, Barbara and John Michael, and survived by her several cherished ones: Paul and Madeline of Naples, FL, Bob of San Diego, CA. Dan and Janet of Scituate, MA and Mary Alice and her husband, Brian Nalepka of Bloomfield, NJ.

Words cannot adequately describe the special person that was Rita Shaughnessy. She had a ferocity of conviction and spirit that belied her gentle countenance, quick wit and hearty laugh, and always, always, a song in her heart and on her lips. Perhaps her most precious gift to all was her ability to make you feel as though you were the most special person in the room, in the world, at any given time. Each of her children, and children-in-law, will tell you that they are her favorite. She lived the prophecy of "love multiplies, it is not divided" and all who knew or came into contact with her felt her light. Rita was an intelligent, sensitive soul who was devout in her faith, serving many years as a Church Lector, Ecumenical Minister and Visitor. When she left this earth, she knew exactly where she was going – home to her husband and son, parents and siblings, where no doubt they are sharing a raucous game of cribbage, and singing "Found a Peanut" among scores of other songs she and her family loved.

Rita is survived in love by nine of her children and their spouses: Monet (delos Santos) Shaughnessy of Manila, Philippines; Ellen Burger and her husband, Peter of Concord, NH; Joseph Shaughnessy and his wife, Harriet of Fleming Island, FL; Brian Shaughnessy and his wife, Krista of Bedford, NH; Mary Shaughnessy and her husband, Matt Shogren of El Cerrito, CA; Mark Shaughnessy and his wife, Maria Fox of Portland, ME; Joan Shaughnessy and Tom Lamont of Holliston, MA; D.J. Shaughnessy and his wife, Tracy of Brunswick, ME; Beth Blades and her husband, Christopher of Portland, ME; and Michael Shaughnessy and his wife, Sarah of Brunswick, ME.

Grammie leaves behind fortunate Shaughnessy grandchildren, whom she loved as abundantly as they are plentiful: Drew and J.T. Burger; Caitlyn Rivas and her husband David, Ryan Shaughnessy and his wife Anne, Chandler Yeazitzis and her husband Thomas, Hunter Larsen and his wife Kelly, Connor Shaughnessy and his wife Kim, Hailey Larsen; Kimberly, Kevin and Christopher Shaughnessy; Seamus and Milo Shogren; Devyn and Kendall Fox Shaughnessy; Jack and Sally Sousa; Will and Kate Shaughnessy; Jacob, Nathan and Owen Blades, and the preschool dynamic duo of Colin and Aaron Shaughnessy. Her great-grandchildren will sorely miss their Grammie: Avery and Parker Rivas, Everett Yeazitzis, Jacob and Rory Larsen.

Waters Funeral Home in Concord, NH is handling the arrangements. There will be no calling hours and funeral services will be private.  A celebration of life gathering is planned for late summer or early fall, 2021.

In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Rita with donations in her memory to Boston Children's Hospital, giving.childrenshospital.org or the Amyloidosis Foundation, amyloidosis.org/act/donate/