SPENCER: Rita M. (Kovaleski) Mandella 93, of Pine Acres, formerly of Oxford and Cherry Valley, died peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday, Nov. 21.
She was the wife of Nicholas Mandella who died in 2007. She leaves three sons Joseph Mandella of Cherry Valley, Steven Mandella and his wife Michelle of Cherry Valley and Tod and his wife Cheryl of Webster, daughter in law Linda Mandella of Spencer with whom she lived, her brother Eugene Kovaleski and his wife Jessie of Tucson, Ariz., 11 grandchildren; Regina, Kristina, Joseph, Michael, Brad, Jenna, Jenifer, Nicholas, Andrea and Shayna Mandella, and Stephanie Forester, 6 great grandchildren; Logan, Ryder, Chloe, Olivia, Anthony and Addelin, and a great great granddaughter Penny Lane, nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by sons; Nicholas J. Mandella and Michael Mandella, a daughter Linda Mandella, granddaughter Angela Mandella and a grandson Nicholas Mandella.
Born in Southbridge, she was the daughter of Joseph and Josephine (Koveleski) Kovaleski and lived many years in Cherry Valley, and 11 years in Oxford before moving to Spencer in 2013.
Rita was a former member of St. Anne’s Parish in Oxford. She enjoyed reading, crochet, bird watching, playing cards and the Red Sox.
The funeral will be held on Monday, Nov. 25 from the MORIN FUNERAL HOME, 1131 Main St., Leicester with a Mass at 10a.m. in Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 7 Church St., Spencer. Burial will follow n St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Leicester. Calling hours are Sunday from 2 to 5p.m.in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a charity.