Margaret R. Soter

Margaret Rita Soter passed away peacefully on March 22, 2023 at the LifeCare Center of Wilbraham with family at her bedside. She was 100.

Rita was born on November 5, 1922 to Peter and Penelope Kiriako in Saco, Maine, the elder of two children. Raised by her loving father and a caring grandmother, she grew up in Boston’s West End district. Although her formative years were ones of meager means and spanned the Great Depression, Rita was surrounded by the love of numerous cousins and friends, and she retained only pleasant memories of her youth. After graduating Boston Girls Latin High School in 1940, Rita became a quick and accurate stenographer and clerk typist, a profession that she performed for several organizations ranging from the U.S. Army headquarters in Boston to the Farm Credit Bank in Agawam.

Shortly after the end of World War II, Rita married Pandeli George Soter in 1946 after his five-year stint in Army Air Force. The young couple moved to Albany, New York where they raised their two sons, while working full-time jobs, she as a clerk-typist, he as a cook. The thrifty couple were totally devoted to providing a happy childhood and a college education for their sons, forgoing personal luxuries in favor of simple pleasures and family time. Rita was a hands-on mother, teaching her sons to read as preschoolers, chaperoning them to numerous events, and attending their baseball games.

In 1957, the couple moved their family to Springfield, Massachusetts, where they owned and managed Peter’s Luncheonette for many years. Rita accepted her new role with her typical high-spirited energy and good cheer. In the family business her tireless work ethic and her amazing people skills were on full display, setting an example for her sons. After the family business was sold, her sons attended Dartmouth College, fulfilling one of her biggest dreams. Rita and her husband became Longmeadow residents in 1976. Their 49-year marriage ended with his passing in 1995.

In 2002, Rita, a spry 80-year-old, moved to Glenmeadow Retirement Community in Longmeadow. During her nearly 18 years there, Rita enjoyed an enriched lifestyle, making many wonderful friends, and partaking in all manner of activities ranging from chorus and line dancing to art and fitness classes. She had a knack for growing plants, which she frequently gifted to new Glenmeadow neighbors, and enjoyed chauffeuring her friends around town until she gave up driving at age 90. Rita also lent her skills and heart to a variety of charities and volunteer efforts. She was an agile, fun-loving grandmother who was always up for an adventure or games. Even when not on the go, she directed her boundless energy to knitting and crocheting items that she freely gave to family, friends, and strangers.

Throughout her long life, Rita remained a devout Christian and for many years an active member of St. George Orthodox Cathedral in Springfield. She seldom complained and lived life with joy and gratitude. Above all, she was a devoted wife and selfless, loving mother. Rita will be forever remembered by her sons, Arthur Philip Soter (Maureen) and Dennis Stephen Soter (Lynn), and by her adoring granddaughter, Maria Alexandra Soter.

Rita’s Funeral Service will be Saturday, April 1st at 11 AM at Wilbraham Funeral Home, 2551 Boston Rd., Wilbraham, followed by burial in Longmeadow Cemetery. An hour of visitation will precede the Service from 10-11 AM at Wilbraham Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her memory to St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 22 St. George Street, Springfield, MA 01104..