Rita Marie Bettencourt Goulart Diniz, 77, of Harrisonburg, Virginia, and formerly of Martha’s Vineyard, died on Tuesday, March 11, in Harrisonburg.
She was born February 15, 1937, on Martha’s Vineyard and was the daughter of the late Arthur M. and Rita M. Chase Bettencourt.
Rita was a retired certified nursing aid and had worked at several nursing homes and the hospital, a past worthy matron of the Eastern Star and American Legion Auxiliary, all in the Martha’s Vineyard area. She moved to Harrisonburg in 2010 and attended Park View Mennonite Church.
Beside her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Vanderly Diniz, and her first husband of 45 years, George Nunes Goulart Sr.; a brother, Arthur M. Bettencourt and a sister, Susan Julia Bettencourt Holdgate.
Surviving are two sons, George N. Goulart Jr. of Cape Cod, and Paul L. Goulart of Elkton, Virginia, two daughters, Felicia E. Goulart of Buena Vista, Virginia, and Victoria M. vonHone of Elkton, Virginia; one brother, David Bettercourt; one sister, Claire Bettencourt; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Ms. Diniz was cremated at the Kyger Funeral Home in Harrisonburg, and burial at Martha’s Vineyard will be announced at a later date.
Memorial donations may be made to the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, Compassion Fund, 1501 Virginia Avenue, Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Online condolences may be sent to www.kygers.com.