Rita P. Novak, 95, passed away peacefully at UMass Memorial Hospital on March 7, 2022.

She was predeceased by all her siblings, four brothers and one sister: Richard, Eugene, Raymond, Robert, and Loretta Novak Dunn. She leaves two sister-in-laws, Wanda J. Novak of Worcester and Diane Novak of Jefferson. She was also predeceased by her parents, Sylvester and Vera Dell Novak. She leaves five nephews, Ronald R. Novak and his wife, Dianne, of Wilkinsonville; Robert E. Dunn and his wife, Julianne, of Jefferson; Atty. Paul M. Novak, of Worcester, Eugene M. Novak, Jr. and his wife, Carol, of Framingham, Richard P. Novak, Jr., and his wife, Toni, of Oxford, six nieces, Dianne Andresano and her husband, Vincent of Millbury, Donna Janes of Sutton, Lori Konrad and her husband, Karl of Jefferson, Christine Florio of Newbury, Kim Trotto and her husband, David of Osterville, and Sharon Dunn, of Worcester.

Rita started working part-time at the Norton Company at the age of 16 in March of 1943 and when she graduated from Commerce High School the following June, she started full-time. She held several secretarial positions and on November 1, 1971, she was appointed Administrative Assistant to the Executive Vice President. She retired from the company in 1985 at the age of 58.

After she retired, she went to work for her two nephews who were just starting their own businesses: Attorney Paul Novak, and Robert Dunn, President of Reservoir Garage. After they became established, she left them and went into her own business, RPN Realty, LLC. She later turned this business over to them. She was also one of the founders of the Norton Alumni Club, now known as the Norton/St. Gobain Alumni Club, and was its first secretary and treasurer. Rita was a life-long member of Our Lady of the Rosary Church.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 11, 2022 from Nordgren Memorial Chapel, 300 Lincoln Street, Worcester, with a 10:00 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 25 Fales Street, Worcester, MA. Burial will be in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. Calling hours will be held at Nordgren Memorial Chapel on Thursday, March 10, 2022 from 4-7 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 25 Fales Street, Worcester, MA 01606.