HOLLISTON –

Rita E. Taft, 77, of Holliston, died Tuesday, July 20, 2004, at Kathleen Daniels Nursing Home in Framingham. Born in Holliston, she was the daughter of the late Harry and Florence (Stewart) Higgins.

A lifelong resident of Holliston, Mrs. Taft had worked for J.M. Fields in Natick for 35 years and then for Kmart Corp. for 25 years. She loved to knit.

She leaves two sons, William T. Martin of Nevada and John R. Martin and his fiancee, Paula Hosmer, of Ayer; two daughters, Linda L. Hagopian of Holliston and Donna M. McGee and her husband, Mickey, of Centerville, Ga.; a sister, Evelyn Heartshorn and her husband, Al, of Merrimack, N.H.; her grandchildren, Todd Parmenter and his wife, Maria, Robin Steele, Adam Parmenter, Richard Hagopian Jr. and his wife, Mirelle, Jeffery Hagopian, Christopher McGee, Tracy Flores and her husband, Chiper, Robert McGee, Joshua, Joel and Jake Kenney, and Samantha Verhille and Rochelle Martin; 10 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Donald Higgins and Richard, who died as a baby, and mother-in-law of the late Richard Hagopian.

A funeral Mass will be held Friday, July 23, at 10 a.m., at St. Mary’s Church.
Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visiting hours are Thursday, July 22, from 6 to 8 p.m, at Chesmore Funeral Home, 854 Washington St. (Rte. 16), Holliston (www.chesmorefuneralhome.com). Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts Chapter, 36 Cameron Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140.