Rita Claire (Doherty) Sullivan passed away on July 24, 2017. Rita was born in Hamden on July 3, 1929, a daughter of the late Francis & Muriel (Murphy) Doherty. She was the widow of Alfred E. Sullivan, Sr.; mother of Patricia Sullivan, Joan (David) Rhone, Frances (John) Copela, James (Renee) Sullivan and Robert (Colleen) Sullivan, all of Hamden, and the late Alfred E. Sullivan Jr. & MaryEllen St. Arnault; grandmother of Sean St. Arnault, Samantha St. Arnault, Tara Velardi, Robert (Kristin) Velardi, Christopher (Katie) Rhone, Kerry Rhone, Daniel (Marisa Chilelli) Rhone, Patricia Copela, Jennifer (Christopher) Atchley, John P. Copela, Eric Sullivan, Jenna Sullivan, Bryan Sullivan, Colby Sullivan & Connor Sullivan and the late Jamie Lynn Sullivan; great-grandmother of Gianna Velardi, Kellen & Camden Rhone, & Eloise Atchley; sister of the late Gerald & James Doherty, Patricia MacGregor, Lucille McSherry, & Audrey Burke; mother in-law of Robert St. Arnault, and sister in-law of James MacGregor & Charlotte Doherty. Rita is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Rita was a graduate of St. Francis School of Nursing in Hartford and was a Registered Nurse employed for over 36 years at Quinnipiac College Health Center and Yale Health Center. She was a member of the Laurel View Women's 9 Hole Club, the Hamden Democratic Town Committee of many years, and the Hamden Ethics Board for 10 years. She loved to spend time with her grandchildren, especially at their sporting events; she loved a good hockey game, hot and sunny summer days, a good debate, and crossword puzzles. Rita's family would like to express a special Thank You to all the nurses and staff at Masonic Hospice. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Alfred E. Sullivan, Jr. Scholarship Fund, c/o Webster Bank, 145 Bank Street, Waterbury, CT 06702 or to the Jamie Lynn Sullivan Memorial Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 185248, Hamden, CT 06518. Friends may visit with Rita's family on Thursday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Avenue and are invited to go directly to St. Rita Church, 1640 Whitney Ave., Hamden on Friday, July 28th to attend her Mass of Christian Burial which will be celebrated at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery.