HOLYOKE, Mass. — Sisters of St. Joseph Sister Rita Deschenes, (Marie Xavier), 74, a native of Fall River, who spent 55 years in religious service, died January 25 at the Mont Marie Health Care Center. She was the daughter of the late Albert and the late Bermonde (Lemieux) Deschenes. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of LePuy in Fall River in 1955 from the former St. Jean Baptiste Parish, and became a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield when the two congregations merged in 1974. Sister Deschenes attended Jesus Marie Academy and received a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College and a master’s degree in religious studies from Providence College. She taught at schools in Louisiana, Arkansas and Massachusetts. Locally she taught at St. Michael’s and St. Louis schools in Swansea, and St. Matthew’s in Fall River. Her most recent ministry was directing Religious Education at St. Joseph’s in DeRidder, La., where she also was a pastoral minister. She leaves three brothers, Robert, Albert and Paul; seven sisters, Lauretta Gonyon, Alice Beauchesne, Claudette St. Laurent, Lucille Tarvis, Pauline Birge, Anne Mayes and Irene Deschenes; nieces and nephews; and her Sisters in Community. She was also the sister of the late Raymond, Doris and Richard Deschenes. Her Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated January 27 in the Mont Marie Chapel in Holyoke. Burial was in the Mont Marie Cemetery. The Sampson Funeral Home in Springfield was in charge of arrangements.