FAIRFIELD - Rita Brousseau LaChance, 90, passed peacefully surrounded by loving family on February 1, 2026, at Glenridge in Augusta. She grew up in Waterville and attended Waterville schools. Together with her former husband Arthur of 32 years, they established the LaChance Holstein Dairy Farm in Benton. In later years, she lived in Fairfield and worked at Home Depot and Thomas College, both in Waterville. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends in Maine, and extended family in Canada. She loved foods from McDonald's (where she enjoyed her coffee & newspaper), Hillman's, Dunkin Donuts, and Belanger's, especially lobster rolls and scallops. Rita was born on March 12, 1935, in Waterville to the late George and Rose (Tanguay) Brousseau. The youngest of nine children, she was predeceased by siblings: (infant) Lucien Brousseau I, Paul Brousseau, Harold Brousseau, Lucien Brousseau II, Adrian Brousseau, Germaine MacDonald, Lucienne "Lucille" Jacques, Jeannette Roy; and grandchildren: Rachel Whitney, and Nathan Whitney. She is survived by her children: Debra Whitney / husband Ron of Benton, Donald LaChance / wife Rosean of Florida, and Hope Lord / partner Tony Flye of Winthrop; and grandchildren: Joel Whitney, Rose Whitney Youngbar/husband Samuel, Melissa Wight/husband Steve, Nicole Lord/partner Dave, Scarlett Hawthorne/husband Ross, Dallas Johnson/husband Richard, Donald "LD" LaChance; great-grandchildren: Logan, Liam, Gwendolyn, Isabel, Isaac, Cheyenne, Lewis, Henry, and Madilyn Grace. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Rita was very caring and always quick to offer help to family and friends. Many early memories were made visiting her sisters Lucille and Jeannette and their families, as well as visiting her aunts and cousins in St. Prosper, Quebec. She loved being a Mémère, "Mem," and Grammy. She enjoyed playing "King's Corner" card game, making puzzles, and coloring together with her daughters and grandchildren. She loved sitting on her back deck on a sunny day watching the birds and enjoying the fragrance of her lilacs and perennial garden. Rita's hobbies included bowling into her 80's, listening to Elvis Presley and Glen Miller music, and roller skating as a teen and into her 40's. Rita also enjoyed going for long drives, exploring back roads throughout Maine, and traveling to Florida, Graceland, Nashville, Niagara Falls, and Montreal with family. For decades she was an active member of the ladies Benton Extension group, where she attended with her life-long friend Rita Fortin. The family expresses its gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Glenridge Long Term Care in Augusta and Maine General Hospice for the excellent care and compassion shown to our mom, Rita. We also thank home care workers: Ashley, Rose, and Adeeba whose loving care allowed Mom to stay in her home as long as possible. There will be a graveside burial on May 14th at 11:00 at the St. Francis Cemetery on Grove Street in Waterville.