Rita Carmel Johnson

Rita Carmel (MacPherson) Johnson, age 84, passed away on Friday, November 1, 2024, at the Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, Massachusetts. Born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada on November 24, 1939, she was the daughter of Charles MacPherson and Laura (Vanderlinden) Larrabee. Carmel lived the first decade of her life on the charming Canadian island, spending countless hours at the seashore, swimming and watching the fishermen. Many days she would visit her neighbors or venture out to meet her father as he returned from a long day’s work at the coal mines, ready to share his lunch with her.

As a young girl, Carmel moved to the United States with her family, taking up residence in Massachusetts. A few years after her father's untimely passing, her mother suffered a heart attack. The role of caregiver was then thrust upon Carmel, who left her education behind to help nurse her mother back to health, maintain their home, and care for her younger siblings. Once her mother had recovered, Carmel found work as an elevator attendant, and later as a switchboard operator at Stone and Webster. 

Carmel was in her early 20's and out with some girlfriends at Kilgraff's in Boston, dancing and having a good time, when she caught the eye of dashing young man, who quickly asked her for a dance. He whisked her onto the dance floor and, as they say, the rest was history. Carmel married the love of her life, Edward B. Johnson, Jr., on September 7, 1963. The young couple made their married home in Sharon, Massachusetts, where they would raise a family. 

Carmel was a natural businesswoman. She took chores that she enjoyed, like cleaning, or hobbies like cooking, and turned them into careers. Her cleaning career started off by helping friends, who then spread the word and soon Carmel built an extensive list of clients begging for her services. In the early 1980's, Carmel became the caretaker for Our Lady of Sorrows' rectory, which led to her taking on little odd jobs, like making dishes for meetings and church dinners. Her cooking was so popular that catering requests began coming in, and soon enough, she had a small catering business as well. And it was truly no wonder, as Carmel was a fantastic cook, and even better baker. 

Later in life, after Edward retired, the pair took to traveling and adventuring together across the country. They visited Alaska, the Grand Canyon, Washington, DC., and many other destinations. They regularly went south to Florida and took many cruises, always ready for the next excursion at port. When her grandchildren came along in the late 1990's, Carmel stayed more local so that she could spend time with them. Carmel loved to be with her family, as they were the most important part of her life. Her children were her pride, her grandchildren her joy, and her husband her true love.

In her free time, Carmel enjoyed a variety of activities. Throughout her whole life she enjoyed spending time in the water; from the shores of Cape Breton to a swimming pool in her backyard, water aerobics at the local gym, or sitting in her black lawn chair on the beach at Lake Massapoag; it was her favorite place to be. If she wasn't swimming or working on her tan, you could often find Carmel with a deck of cards and some friends. Carmel loved to play poker, cards, mahjong, cribbage, and bingo. She was a fierce competitor and liked to play her luck at Foxwoods and in Las Vegas - one time winning $20,000 on a quarter machine! To relax Carmel enjoyed curling up with a Norah Roberts novel, watching the birds gather at one of the feeders she maintained, tending to her garden where she grew beautiful flowers, bowling with friends, or playing in her local bocce league. Carmel also loved to bake. She was famous for her marshmallow balls, shortbread cookies, and Christmas treats. Everyone looked forward to these baked goodies, which were in constant production come Christmas time. Christmas was Carmel's favorite holiday and she looked forward to it more than her birthday every year. As such, Christmas at Carmel's was an exciting time. She would decorate her entire house but would leave the tree for last. Carmel would patiently be waiting for an opportunity to decorate the tree with her grandchildren, placing each ornament in its proper place, a tradition that brought her so much joy. 

Beloved wife of the late Edward B. Johnson Jr.

Loving mother of Catherine Ann Grant of Sharon and Edward B. Johnson III, and his wife Susan, of South Easton

Cherished grammy of Megan E. Grant-Fontaine, and her husband James A. Fontaine III, of Nashua, New Hampshire, and Emily R. Grant of Mansfield

Sister of Elizabeth Turpin and Lorna Ashton, both of Winter Haven, Florida, the late Marie MacPherson, and Jean Taylor

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Carmel's visitation on Tuesday, November 12th, 2024, from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole. A funeral home service will follow at 7:00 pm. Interment will occur privately at Knollwood Memorial Park in Sharon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Carmel's name may be made to the Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or by visiting https://www.stjude.org