Rita Call Desjardins didn’t just enter a room — she arrived. Often in sequins.

Born June 12, 1941, in Milo, Maine, to Frank M. and Rena (LaBreque) Call, Rita grew up with a spark that never dimmed. She graduated from Orono High School in 1959 and trained as an X-ray technician at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor — a career that suited someone who always liked to see what was really going on.

On September 7, 1964, she married the love of her life, Robert J. Desjardins, in Old Town, Maine, beginning a partnership that lasted 60 years and took them around the world and back. They put down roots in Scarborough and later Pittsfield, Maine, where Rita threw herself into community life with her characteristic enthusiasm, competing as a bowler (the attic overflowed with trophies), serving as an officer in the local Arts Club and Kiwaniannes, cheering on her children at every turn, and being the center of gravity at every social gathering. Rita had a gift for joy. A true “hostess with the mostest,” she put everyone at ease. She created a loving and active home, and her annual Christmas parties were legendary. She had a deep love of playing games, and few things made her happier than a lively table of family and friends with a deck of cards in play.

Rita also had a gift for finding bargains. Whether she was hunting deals at Pittsfield’s beloved “House of Renée” or scouring outlet malls on her travels, she had an eye for color, for fun, and for the perfect statement piece. Her wardrobe was a testament to a woman who believed life was too short for beige.

When Robert retired, they embraced the snowbird life, splitting their time between a home near their daughter Lisa in Virginia, and Daytona Beach Shores, Florida, where they built a warm circle of friends and kept their social calendars as full as ever. She also relished her role as proud “Memé” to her grandsons, delighting in every moment with them. Her faith was equally central to her life — a devoted Catholic, Rita was a member of St. Agnes Church in Pittsfield, Church of the Redeemer in Mechanicsville, VA, and Church of the Epiphany in Port Orange, FL.

She was never one to sit still. An avid crafter and seamstress, Rita was always planning her next project and making something beautiful for someone she loved. She traveled extensively and was up for any adventure; she went whitewater rafting on the Colorado River and rode a camel in Egypt — and looked fabulous doing it.

Rita passed away peacefully on June 8, 2026, in Crofton, Maryland. She leaves behind a world that is quieter and less sparkly without her.

She is survived by her devoted daughters, Deborah (Michael Gunzenhauser) of Pittsburgh, PA, and Lisa (Al Prejean) of Odenton, MD; beloved grandsons Joshua and Adam Gunzenhauser; and her sister, Sandra (Richard) Jenness of Athens, GA, along with many cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, her sisters Jane Sanipass and Betty Walden, and her son, Robert Desjardins.

A private family service will be held at a later date. Tributes in honor of Rita may be made to the Desjardins Family Faculty Endowment Fund at Maine Central Institute, 295 Main St. Pittsfield 04967. Please use the link below.

https://www.mci-school.org/giving/desjardins-faculty-endowment-fund