Rita J. Maxwell, a longtime resident of Wilmington passed away November 5th, at the Melrose Wakefield Hospital following a lengthy illness. She was 78 years of age. Rita was the beloved wife of Dwight F. Maxwell and together they shared 58 years of marriage. Born in Boston she was the daughter of the late Hector and Anna (Gentile) Campanelli.
Rita was raised and educated in Everett and was a graduate of Everett High School. She worked for many years as a secretary with several different companies. She met her future husband at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. where she was working as a secretary and he was stationed during the Korean War. Shortly after the war they were soon married and settled back in Massachusetts. Rita was mostly devoted to her family and enjoyed raising her three children and taking care of her family's needs. She was also very active and enjoyed bowling for many years and traveling with family and friends. In more recent years prior to her declining health she was active at the Wilmington Senior Center and looked forward to socializing with many friends.
In addition to her husband, Rita is survived by her children, James C. Maxwell of Jacksonville, FL, Marie Ciaramitaro and her husband Benjamin of Haverhill, and Dwight "David" Maxwell of Lowell. She is also survived by her loving grandchildren, Benjamin, Michael, Rachel, Courtney, Cassie and Christina. She is further survived by her sisters, Norma Sanchez of Reading, Camille Burgess of Kansas, and in-laws Robert and Rita Maxwell of New Hampshire and Phyllis Smith of Dorchester.
Funeral Services will be held from the Dello Russo Funeral Home 374 Main St. Wilmington on Thursday, November 11th, at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral mass celebrated in St. Thomas of Villanova Church, 126 Middlesex Ave, Wilmington, at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held at the Dello Russo Funeral Home on Tuesday evening from 7 - 9 p.m. and Wednesday from 2 - 4 & 7- 9 p.m. Services will conclude with burial at Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington.