Rita E. LeBlanc

It is with great sadness that the family announce the unexpected passing of Rita LeBlanc on February 15, 2026 at the age of 92.

Born and raised in Saint John, N.B., she was the daughter of the late Melvina (Cormier) and Albert Gordon. Her hometown is where she met her husband Maurice and they shared 49 years of marriage and raised their five children. Rita was a stay-at-home Mom and homemaker for most of her life. The family eventually moved from Saint John to St. Stephen then on to Nackawic before returning to St Stephen after Maurice’s retirement.

She met her longtime friend Susan Benedetto and became her right hand at Susan’s Dance School for many years. They had many great times together.

Mom enjoyed many things in her life, especially playing cribbage at the Legion, where she made many friendships, lunch with Mary, Jane and Wendy, going for drives and lunch with her special friend, Norman Lord, playing cards every Friday night with Janet and Susan Smith, but most of all spending time with her family.

She is survived by her children, Brenda Olynych (Mike), Danny (Paulette), Tim (Rosina), Janet Downey (Allan) and Donna Coates, grandchildren, Monica LeBlanc Priest, Stacey Couturier, Tim Olynych (Erin), Ryan LeBlanc (Alicia), Amanda Speedy (Jason), Kayla Jo Wright (Alex), Sheena Scowcroft (Shaun) and Luke LeBlanc (Jessica), many great-grandchildren. She also is survived by her sister-in-law, Bernadette LeBlanc and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her grandchildren, Peter LeBlanc, Christopher Olynynch, Brittany LeBlanc, Bradley Downey, great-grandchildren, Jenica Couturier and Cassandra Downey, siblings, Pearl and Lillian Fortune, Mike, George and Gerald Gordon, as well as all of Maurice’s siblings.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St Stephen’s Catholic Church, Milltown Blvd., St Stephen, N.B. on Friday, February 20, 2026 at 11 AM. There will be no visitation held.

She always said, “Don’t be sad when I’m gone, have a party”, please feel free to wear her favorite color yellow or anything with bling!

Interment will be at Oak Bay Cemetery, Oak Bay, N.B. at a later date.

For those who wish, donations in Rita’s memory may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Condolences may be sent to the family online at mehanfuneralhome.ca