Rita Ann (Sheehan) Burke, age 79, passed away May 7, 2026 at Southwood nursing in Norwell.

She was born June 8, 1946 in Boston, the daughter of the late William and Rita (York)Sheehan.

She moved to Rockland in the early 70’s with her husband Rick, to be closer to family. With the added bonus of a small town to raise their children in. Rita worked at K-Mart inRockland until they closed and moved to Braintree and shortly after that, she retired for the first time. Then she went to work at Ocean State Job Lot in Rockland for 12 years until she retired for the second time. She then became a full-time TinyHuman Supervisor to her youngest grandson until he started full-time school in the first grade. After that, she worked at Dollar Tree in Rockland until she retired for the third and final time in 2023.

She didn’t have many hobbies, but she did have her daily lottery. There was not one reason in this world she wasn’tgetting them played. It didn’t matter who had to go out in the snow, rain, or sleet just like the mailman, her numbers were getting played. She was also a big fan of Sunday fun day, which could be something as simple as playing Keno at Rokieswith one or all of her children or heading to the casino with her husband and sister. She also loved a good mani/pedi after 15 minutes in the tanning bed.

Rita was survived by her Husband Richard Burke of almost 54 years, her brother William Sheehan Jr of Rockland, sister in law Shannon Creney, her son Michael Foley and his wife Patty(Berry) of Rockland, her daughters Debbie Johnson, Chrissy Burke, and Donna Burke all of Rockland. Grandkids Jimmy Manning and his wife Amanda (Smith), Craig Manning, Patrick Foley, Brandon Little, Ryan Foley, Vincent Little, Joey Mazzilli, Bailey Foley, Pamela Dudley, Taylor Dudley, and Logan Little, great grandson Mason Manning and many nieces and nephews.

She is pre-deceased by her parents William and Rita (York) Sheehan, brother Robert Sheehan, sister Carol Sheehan, brother James Sheehan, sisters in Law Maureen (Moe) Mathias and Kathy Sheehan, nephew William Sheehan III, niece Laurie Moran, and grandson Matthew Capone.

Being a Mammy (grandmother), was by far her greatest honor. We can only hope that she knows how much she is missed already.

Rita’s family invites friends and loved ones to celebrate her life on Thursday, May 14, 2026 from 4:00-7:00 pm in the Magoun-Biggins Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass will be held in the Holy Family Church in Rockland on Friday, May, 15, 2026 at 9:00 am.