Restitutia "Rita" DiSpigno Cristadore passed away peacefully on November 26, 2007 at the age of 82 years.
She was born on the island of Ischia, Italy on March 16, 1925. She moved to New York City in 1943 with her family when she was 9 years old because of the threat of war in Europe. She grew up in Manhattan and learned the English language quickly while excelling in school.
Rita married Joseph Cristadore and spent the next 25 years as a navy wife. Rita and Joseph were married for 57 years and raised three daughters - Marie, Paula and Donna.
Rita was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church for 43 years. She was an amateur artist and an avid reader. She was knowledgeable in many subject areas. Rita loved to cook Italian dishes for her family. She enjoyed gardening, knitting and sewing. She was able to return to her beloved Ischia for a visit with relatives in later life. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
She leaves behind sisters Antoinette Vlismas and Josephine Vogt. Predeceased is her brother Francesco and sister Lucia DiSpigno. She also leaves her loving husband Joseph and her daughters and their husbands and children Marie and John Hobbes and their sons, David and Matthew; Paula and Rick Podlaski and their daughters Jessica and Jaclyn; Donna and Curt Floyd and their sons Avery and Wyatt.
Her family will greet relatives and friends at The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Historic downtown Mystic on Thursday from 6-8pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Rte. 12, Gales Ferry on Friday at 10am. Burial will follow at Avery-Stoddard Cemetery, Ledyard.
Donations can be made to the Covenant House, Times Square Station, PO Box 731, New York NY 10108-0900.
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