She referred to herself as “the last Mohican”. In her 90’s, but as youthful and intelligent as a teenager, my grandmother was one of a kind. Her mind a steel trap- she remembered every name, every connection, every detail of her whole life! She told great, naughty stories, fed all our dogs under the table, preserved all our childhood memories in scrapbooks, all our old Star Wars and Strawberry Shortcake dolls in cleaned out pretzel tubs, and clothes from our youth tucked in boxes in case we ever wanted them some day. Rita (aka Benny) was LOADED with advice- whether you wanted it or not. She was an amazing letter writer, fierce in her need to make us aware of all the things that could harm us in the world- or share a great movie she watched the night before. She loved watching cooking shows- and then calling you to tell you exactly how easy it looks and you should turn on the show so you could try it.
Rita lived a long life with a lot of ups and downs- but hopefully she’ll remember the ups- because I know we all will.
She’s reunited with her brothers and sisters now as well as her parents and my grandfather- and I know that’s right where she was ready to be.
As my grandmother always said when we left: “see ya later alligator”
After while crocodile....😘🙏🏻 by Laura Oakes
Relatives and friends are invited to her Funeral Service on Monday Jan. 8, 2018 at 11:00 AM and may call after 10:00 AM at Carr Funeral Home 935 S. Providence Rd. Wallingford. Interment will follow at SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery.