Rita M. Rockwood, 88
Dateline: Norton, MA
Rita M. (Cintioni) Rockwood, 88, of Norton formerly of Mansfield and Somerville died on Saturday April 19, 2008 at the Madonna Manor Nursing Home in North Attleboro. She was the beloved wife of Joseph D. Rockwood. Mr. and Mrs. Rockwood were married on November 16, 1943.
Born in Lawrence, MA on July 6, 1919 she was a daughter of the late Nazzareno and Ersilia (Cascioli) Cintioni.
Rita grew up in Somerville and was a 1937 graduate of Somerville High School. A retired Dietary Aid, Mrs. Rockwood worked for the Little Sisters of The Poor, a Catholic Retirement Home in Somerville for 13 years before retiring in 1985.
As a young lady, she studied opera and sang in various church choirs and had the opportunity to appear on Radio Station W.O.R.L. in Medford. Rita’s hobbies included gardening but her favorite times were the holidays where she truly shined. An extraordinary cook, she would spoil her family with meals prepared in the tradition of her Italian heritage, her dishes prepared with fish were remarkable.
A communicant of St Mary’s Church in Mansfield, Rita had made her home in Norton for the past 7 years, was a former 17 year resident of Mansfield and had formerly lived for over 35 years in Somerville.
In addition to her beloved husband of over 64 years she is survived by her devoted daughters; Sandra R. Ruscetta and her husband Anthony of Rehoboth and Jirina M. Riley of Rehoboth, her sister Rose Iacozzi of Somerville, her cherished grandchildren Kimberly Gero, Kristine O’Leary and Jeffrey Ruscetta, her great grandchildren Megan Ruscetta, Lindsay Ruscetta, Nicholas Ruscetta, Mackenzie O’Leary and Christopher O’Leary, also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Her funeral Mass, to which relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend, will be celebrated on Thursday April 24th at 11:00 A.M. in St. Mary’s Church 330 Pratt St. (Route 106) Mansfield. Burial will follow in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Roslindale.
Visitation will be held prior to the funeral Mass on Thursday morning beginning at 9:30 A.M. at the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home 55 North Main St. Mansfield.
In lieu of flowers, Rita’s family has requested that donations in her memory be made to the patients fund at Madonna Manor Nursing Home 85 North Washington St. North Attleboro, MA 02760.
For additional information please visit www.shermanjackson.com