Rita M. (Harrington) Nielsen

Waltham – Those words from Proverbs 31:28 capture the heart of a virtuous mother, and they echo beautifully in the life of Rita Nielsen. Her wisdom, her steady strength, and her tireless devotion have shaped five children who speak her name with genuine love, admiration, and gratitude. Their voices are full of affection and respect and are the living testimony of her character. 

Rita M. Harrington was born on December 12, 1930 in Boston a daughter of the late Joseph and Mary (Connors) Harrington. Raised in Belmont she graduated from Belmont High School with the class of 1948 and later attended Chandler Secretarial School in Boston. She married Edward J. Nielsen on September 13, 1952 in Saint Patrick Church in Watertown. Ed died on April 14, 2014. Longtime Watertown residents they moved to Waltham in 2006.

Rita died in the comfort of her home with family gathered on Sunday, June 21, 2026. She was 95.

She was the epitome of a devoted mother and homemaker. A gifted seamstress, she created countless clothes and costumes for her children and many others, each piece stitched with care and love. Rooted in a faith instilled from a young age, she was a dedicated and active member of Saint Luke’s Parish. She served as parish secretary and CCD Coordinator, and she cherished the friendship and shared devotion she found among the Ladies Sodality and brought communion to the homebound. She joined Our Lady’s Parish a couple of years ago, drawn especially to the quiet beauty of the Saturday afternoon vigil.

Her much loved home on Sycamore Street in Watertown was run with the precision of an office perhaps a reflection of her training at Chandler. Her children often praised her remarkable talents and organizational skills including a meticulously categorized recipe box which included the thought filled scheduled maintenance of her home and more. True to her generation yet always adaptable, she embraced email, texting, DVR recording of games or shows and online finances with ease, managing her household with both tradition and modern savvy. A devoted New England sports fan, she faithfully followed all of her teams, with a special affection to the Red Sox.

In addition to her beloved husband of 60 years, Ed, she was predeceased by her granddaughter, Christine M. Niizuma and sister, Ann G. Fawcett.

She leaves her children, Linda A. Nielsen (Dennis Hess) of Clinton, Kathleen Hersey (Richard) of Waltham, John E. Nielsen (Gail) of Plymouth, James J. Nielsen (Teresa) of Waltham and Mary T. Iodice (Richard) of Burlington; her grandchildren, John Hreha (Kristen Anderson), Kaitlin Hersey and Peter Hersey (Emily Bartos), Leandra Nielsen (Paul Mullin) and Ian Nielsen, Joseph and Matthew Nielsen, Renee Servaes (Calvin) and Sarah Iodice; nieces & nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Rita's life by gathering for an Evening Wake in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Monday, June 29th from 4 to 7 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Belmont Cemetery, Belmont.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to Our Lady’s Parish, 920 R Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA 02452.