Rita Teresa Deighton of Yarmouthport, MA died on July 19, 2015 after several years of declining health. Rita was born in 1921 in Brockton, MA the oldest daughter of George E. Lyons and Marguerite (Mills) Lyons. After she graduated from Brockton High School in 1939 she worked for the New England Telephone as a telephone operator and continued this in World War II in San Bernadino and Sacramento, CA and Reno NV.
 
 Rita married her sweetheart William J. Deighton also of Brockton in 1943 in Madison, WI at the air base where Bill was stationed. It was a tiny war time wedding with only Rita’s mother in attendance.  Rita and Bill had a long and happy marriage until Bill’s death in 2008. They lived in Plymouth, MA where they were co-owners with Bob and Eileen Deighton of the Old Colony Dairy Bar Restaurant.  After Bill returned to Civil Service in the FAA, the family was later transferred to Nashua, NH and lived in Hollis, NH for about a decade. They retired to Yarmouthport Cape Cod and enjoyed the beautiful beaches, golf and many family get togethers. They  were able to retrace the trip cross country made by train in war time, this time driving by car and stopping at many scenic spots and national parks. They also enjoyed trips to Prince Edward Island and several winters in Marco Island and the Venice, FL area.
 
At heart, Rita was a homebody who loved her family and home the most. She was a great cook and hostess. Her daughters and their families have special memories of all the holidays spent on Cape Cod. Rita enjoyed buying gifts and cards for her loved ones. She always had gifts for upcoming occasions bought in advance and stored in her guest room closet. 
 
 When she was a little girl in the Great Depression, she came home directly after school to babysit her siblings so her mother could work. When she was grown and working she gave money to her parents each week to help the younger children. This care for loved ones continued in later years while she cared for her husband as his health failed.  Rita was legally blind for many years but rarely complained about her own disability.
 
Her positive outlook on life was inspiring even as her own health declined. She had strong faith and strong will. When she could no longer see to read, she enjoyed listening to books on tape.  Morning coffee socials , Bingo, trivia games and afternoon entertainments were bright spots in her day. Holidays with her family and lunches out were special treats.
 
Rita is survived by her two daughters, Elizabeth and her husband, Kenneth Casson, of Yarmouthport, Kathleen and her husband, Michael Regan, of Kittery, ME; granddaughters, Emily and her husband, Todd Thompson ,of Hopedale, Julia and  her husband, Nick Giannotti of North Billerica and, grandson Dan Regan and his wife, Jeni Foster of Farmington, NH. Her two great grandsons, Matthew and Ryan Thompson brought her special joy. Rita outlived all her siblings by many years; Daniel, George, Rosemary, Thomas and Robert. She is survived by sisters- in- law, Gertrude DeCost of South Dennis and Edith Lyons of Brockton, as well as many nieces and nephews.
 
The family wants to thank the many caretakers at the Pavilion who became her second family and cared for her with kindness and love.
 
Friends and relatives are invited to call at the Hallett Funeral Home, 273 Station Ave., South Yarmouth, MA on Thursday, July 23, 2015 from 4-6 p.m.  A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, July 24, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in Saint Pius X Church, Station Ave., South Yarmouth, MA.  Burial in Calvary Cemetery, Brockton, MA.
 
 

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