Mary "Rita" Kehoe

Poquoson  - Mary “Rita” Kehoe, 91, a native of North Braddock, PA and Poquoson resident for 49 years, passed away peacefully Thursday, December 1, 2022 at home surrounded by her loving family.  Rita, and her late husband, Edward J. Kehoe, met while she was attending high school in North Braddock and married when Ed graduated from Duquesne University School of Pharmacy.  Together they raised six sons in Youngstown, Ohio but that did not keep Rita from going to night school and earning her Bachelors Degree in Education at Youngstown State University.  Upon moving to Poquoson in 1973, Rita became active in youth football and baseball along side Ed. She was a founding member of St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church and an English Literature teacher at Poquoson High School until her retirement in 1996.   She was an avid sports fan, enjoyed traveling, sitting on the beach, reading, crossword puzzles (did them in ink), playing cards, and a good laugh with family and friends. She was preceded in death by her mother Madeline Welsh and stepfather Theodore Welsh, her husband Edward J. Kehoe, and two sons, Eddie Joe and Pat Kehoe. She is survived by her four sons, Brian Kehoe and wife Elaine of Poquoson, Michael Kehoe and wife Jacqui of Gloucester, Dan Kehoe of Poquoson, Tim Kehoe and wife Jennifer of Charlotte, NC, ten grandchildren, Tara, Allison, Noreen, Mac, Emmy, Katie, Taylor, Hailey, Jason and Eddie, six great grandchildren,  and one great-great grandchild.  Rita, the family matriarch, was a smart, sassy, strong and resilient woman with contagious optimism.  A stickler for details, she was probably checking the grammar and punctuation as we put this together. She was loved dearly by her family and will be greatly missed by them and all who had the pleasure to know her.
The family will receive friends Thursday, December 8, 6-7:30PM, at Claytor Rollins Funeral Home, Poquoson.  A Memorial service will be held Friday, December 9, 3:00PM, at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church.  
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Poquoson Volunteer Fire Company or Poquoson Volunteer Rescue Squad.

Arrangements and heartfelt guidance through Claytor Rollins Funeral Home.

Online condolences to claytorrollins.com. 

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