LEOMINSTER -- Rita A. (Pinard) Rivard, 76, of 300 Atlantic Ave., died Wednesday, Dec. 7, in St. Francis Hospital, Worcester, after a long illness. She was born March 29, 1929, the daughter of the late Edward and Rose (Deschenes) Pinard and lived in Fitchburg all her life. She graduated from Fitchburg High School in 1946. Mrs. Rivard worked for the former New England Telephone Company, now known as Verizon, for 23 years before retiring in 1992. She was a member of Our Lady of the Lake, St. Joseph’s, Madonna of the Holy Rosary Parishes, the Retired Ladies’ Club and the Booster Club. She was an avid bowler and also enjoyed crocheting and knitting. She also volunteered for many years with tax counseling at the senior centers and libraries. Her husband of 50 years, Maurice E. Rivard, died in October 1999. She was also predeceased by her daughter, Carol MacArthur, in 2000, and her sister, Claire N. Griffith, on Dec. 5, 2005. She leaves two sons, Steven E. Rivard of Leominster and Donald R. Privard of Leominster; one daughter, Diane Cibelli of Marlboro; two sisters, Jacqueline M. Bigelow of Leominster and Janet Creighton of Portland, Maine; eight grandchildren, Jesse, Jason, Justin and Cathleen MacArthur, and Tim Michael and Cassandra Rivard; and five great grandchildren, Joshua, Dylan, Nathan, Anthony and Carol Anne MacArthur. RIVARD -- The funeral will be held Wednesday, Dec. 14, from Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Road, Fitchburg, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of the Lake Church, 1400 Main St., Leominster. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Calling hours are Tuesday, Dec. 13, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the funeral home.