Rita La Pointe, a Plympton resident for over 60 years, passed over on November 22 at the Hannah B.G. Shaw Home in Middleboro Mass.  Rita, known by her hundreds of 4H-ers, as Miss LaPointe, was 100 years old.

Rita referred to herself as “the Dog lady of Plympton” for good reason. She ran St. Roques Grooming out of her home on Crescent St. where she also boarded and cared for a small menagerie of dogs, cats and chickens. Some will also remember a horse, a pony, a pig, goats, plus a herd of geese!  

In 1961, Miss La Pointe founded Plympton's first 4-H dog club Cave Canem, Latin for “beware of dog”. During weekly meetings, she taught generations of kids dog knowledge, obedience, and showmanship. They used her wisdom to compete at dog shows across the state, in addition to other 4-H activities. Miss La Pointe expected “her kids”  and the adults who attended her popular obedience classes to show respect and love for their animals with the same firm hand, high standards and praise she modelled. Many alumni of Cave Canem have gone on to pursue animal related careers, of which Rita was incredibly proud.

She was recognized by 4-H and her community with numerous accolades and awards including the 4-H Lifetime Volunteer Award and Alden Kindred of America’s “Speak for Thyself” award for exceptional women, named after Pilgrim Priscilla Mullins Alden.  The Cave Canem Challenge Cup awarded at the Marshfield Fair is named in her honor. 

Rita was predeceased by her younger sister, Marie McGovern, and beloved niece Kathryn Baker.  Rita is survived by her daughter Nancy La Pointe of New Bedford; her sister’s other children, Kim Sears and Adam Hammond, and their families; as well as Liv Baker, great niece and Cave Canem alum. There are also too many wonderful friends, grown 4H alumni and associates to mention but they include Kendra Garcia, Michelle and Taylor Smith, Marshall Smith,  Nicole Swanson, Marie VanSlyck, Beverly Briggs Westerveld, Debbie Wales, Beth Hutchings Janak, Leslie Pirtle, and Christine Perkins.

If you wish to remember Rita La Pointe through a donation, one may be made in her name to Massachusetts 4-H Dog committee (write Cave Canem on memo line) c/o Kendra Garcia 10 Bavarian Way, Kingston MA or to the Plympton Public Library at 248 Main St. Plympton, MA 02367.  Either way, thank you for keeping her love of the Plympton community alive.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph's Church, 272 Main St. Kingston on Wednesday, November 26th at 10:00am. Burial services will directly follow at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Plympton.