Add this address to your Christmas card list

Just got this from my cousin Sharon. It's not too soon to start compiling your Christmas card list, so consider adding this address:

A Recovering American Soldier

Walter Reed Army Medical Center

6900 Georgia Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20307-5001

A word of encouragement would, no doubt, be greatly appreciated this time of year.

It's the least we can do for someone who is serving to defend the freedoms we all hold so dear.

Rita Norton McCann

I am sorry to report the death of my great-aunt Rita last night following a heart attack in Clinton, Massachusetts. She would have celebrated her 92nd birthday in just a few weeks.

Her passing marks the end of an era, as she was the last surviving child of Thomas J. Norton, Sr. and Lil Irving Norton.

You socks who know me well have probably heard me tell tales about my Grandma G. Well, Rita was one of her three older sisters, a twin to Aunt Marie (the subject of many equally priceless tales).

In addition to her parents and siblings, Aunt Rita was preceded in death by her husband Thomas Lincoln McCann (1910-1994).

She is survived by her only daughter Sharon, son-in-law Tom McQuoid, and grandsons Darren and Kyle . . . and, of course, numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, and friends.

Robert J. McNally of Clinton will be handling funeral arrangements. The immediate family will accept visitors on Sunday. And, a funeral mass will be held on Monday.

Expressions of sympathy may be made directly to Sharon at mccsh02@comcast.net.