Rita Hikel

VASSALBORO – At 11:15 a.m., Sept. 29, 2024, Rita Hikel, the greatest mom and friend to many, started on her new journey. Her previous journey began with her birth on Jan. 16, 1931, in a tiny house on what is now KMD in Waterville, to a large French-Canadian family, where she gained a passion for music and a devotion to her Catholic faith.

Rita attended elementary and high school in Waterville until she developed tuberculosis as a teen. She spent three years in the sanatorium in Fairfield missing both the death of her beloved mother, Dora, and her high school graduation.

Rita, through drive and perseverance, would go on to receive her high school diploma. Afterwards, she put her talent of painting to use and worked as photographer’s colorist and touch up artist. She was also a teller at the Waterville Bank and worked as an inspector at the Hathaway Mill.

In 1963 Rita married Adam Hikel at a well-attended ceremony at St Joseph’s Maronite Church in Waterville. After the birth of her daughter, Anne, in 1965, they moved to Illinois and then to Tennessee where son Joseph would be added to the family. From there, they moved to Michigan where, on Christmas Eve 1970, her third child, Adam, was born.

During the ’70s, Rita packed up the family no less than six times, and was pretty much over it by the time they moved to Wilton, Maine. Finally, after all the children were out of the house, Adam and Rita moved one last time to Vassalboro, where they were able to reunite with many friends and family and never worry about moving ever again.

Rita’s passion was music: she loved to sing and could play piano by ear. She sang with her older sister, Theresa, at the Waterville Opera House and in Skowhegan when they were still in grade school. She sang in the choir at St Joseph’s for many years to the delight of the congregation, learning songs in Arabic and Syriac.

Not only did Rita have a beautiful voice, her tourtiere pies were blue ribbon winners.

She could assemble a killer pie crust in the time it took to say “preheat oven to 350°”. Known to many as a fabulous cook, she loved to bake and make treats for the people she loved. Needless to say, she made a lot of treats.

Her skill in the kitchen and her love of art, theater and music she passed on to her children. She also passed on her sarcasm and stubbornness and the philosophy that nothing is insurmountable with a little effort, and everything else can be fixed with some aspirin and a nap or copious amounts of duct tape.

Most importantly though, she taught by example what it meant to be a decent, kind, and positive force in the world, and what generosity and living in faith was truly about.

Rita was predeceased by her husband Adam; her parents John Theriault and Dora (Ouellette); brothers Renee Theriault, Ray Theriault, Leonard Theriault, Wilfred Theriault, and her sisters Grace Huard, Teresa White, Madeline, Marie, and most recently, Jeffrine Quirion who passed in August.

She leaves her younger brother Paul Theriault; her daughter Anne, sons Joseph and Adam; a grandson, Ian El-Habre and his wife Taylor; and many, many nieces and nephews, all of whom were beloved by her.

The family wishes to thank Gray Birch LTC for their superior care and assistance to Rita, who also expressed her deepest gratitude towards the staff while she was a resident.

Ginnaz for Rita will be at 10 a.m. on Oct. 12 at St. Josephs Maronite Church, 3 Appleton Street, Waterville, Maine. Her remains will be interred following the service at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, 78 Grove Street, Waterville.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm Street, Waterville. An online guestbook may be signed, condolences and memories shared at http://www.gallantfh.com.

In lieu of flowers,

donations can be made

in her honor to:

Maine Children’s Home

93 Silver St.

Waterville, ME 04901