Verge, Rita, of Riverview, FL., formerly of Lowell, MA. died unexpectedly at the age of 70 on August 16, 2011. She was the beloved wife of Harold J. Verge, Sr. with whom she would have celebrated 26 years of marriage this November. She was semi-retired and was a current employee at Busch Gardens in Tampa, FL. as a finance receptionist. She was born in Lowell, MA. on August 6, 1941 the daughter of the late Mr. & Mrs. James Higson and the sister of the late brothers John, James and William Higson of Lowell, MA. and the grandmother of the late Michael and Matthew Mercer. In addition to her husband she is survived by her daughter Rita Ann Boutin and husband Raymond of Riverview, FL., her son Daniel Tremblay and wife Sharon of Lowell, MA. her son John Tremblay and wife Melissa of Lowell, MA., her son James Tremblay and wife Lisa of Riverview, FL., and daughter Mary Beth Jutras of Pelham, N.H., and step-mother of Harold Verge, Jr. and wife Ashleigh of Lowell, MA., Diana Foster and husband Peter of Rockport, MA., David Verge and wife Jennifer of Salem, N.H., Stephen Verge of Leominster, MA., and Daniel Verge of Lowell, MA. In addition to her children she is survived by her sister Karen Landry of Chelmsford, MA., her brother Edward Higson and wife Linda of Hampton Beach, N.H., her brother Kevin Higson of Lowell, MA., her sister Marygail Axon and husband Kenneth of Gibsonton, FL., her brother Michael Higson and wife Donna of Nashua, N.H., and her sister Ann Marie Boland and husband Thomas of Cheyenne, WY., and sister-in-law Linda Higson of Chelmsford, MA. Rita had 12 granddaughters and 8 grandsons and 4 great grandsons, Tyler, Gavin, Aiden and Isaiah and many nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held at Serenity Meadows Funeral Home on Saturday. August 20, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. prior to service time. Memorial Donations may be made to the American Diabetes Assoc., 4902 Eisenhower Blvd. - Ste. 295, Tampa, FL. 33634