Rita D Ritacco

Rita D. “Ma” (Mandella) Ritacco, 99, of Worcester, passed away in the peacefulness of her home, surrounded by loving family.  She was predeceased by her loving husband of sixty-one years, Anthony F. “Terry” Ritacco.

Ma, as she asked everyone to call her, is survived by a large loving family that she adored, including a son, Anthony F. Ritacco, Jr. and his wife Margaret of Dudley; three daughters, Dolores Kachajian and her husband George of Worcester, Maria-Elena Payne wife of the late Kendall B. Payne of Paxton, and Barbara A. Deyette and her husband Edward of North Oxford; eight grandchildren, Theresa, Anthony III, Darlene, Rhonda, Karen, Craig, David, and Keith; twenty-seven great grandchildren; ten great-great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.  Rita was predeceased by seven brothers and sisters, Joseph, Paul, Rose, Alfred, George, Evelyn, and Robert; making her the last surviving of eight children born to the late, Anthony F. and Mary F. (DeFalco) Mandella. Born in Worcester, she has lived here all her life; she graduated from Technical School of Business and the Saint Vincent Hospital School of Nursing.

Ma worked for many years as a maternity nurse, caring for mothers and newborns at Saint Vincent Hospital, before retiring in 1984.  She was a member of Christ the King Church.  She enjoyed dancing, bowling, cooking, and socializing.  She was an animal lover and an avid fan of the Red Sox. She was known to be fashionably and impeccably dressed.  She was a strong woman, ahead of her time in regards to women’s roles, and remained independent and self- sufficient for many years.

Family was her greatest joy and as matriarch, she was so proud of the accomplishments of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren; and loved to hear the stories they’d share at her table on Sunday, where she’d feed them with great food and a mother’s undying love.

There are no Calling Hours.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 25, at 11 a.m. at Christ the King Church, 1052 Pleasant Street, Worcester.  (please gather directly at church)  Interment will follow at the family plot at Mooreland Cemetery, Paxton.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Saint Jude’s Research Hospital, by visiting www.stjude.org or to The MSPCA-Angell, by visiting www.mspca.org.

MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, is assisting her family.