Obituary of Rita Marie Monaco

Rita Marie Monaco, 89, of Bemus Point, NY passed away Tuesday, December 27, 2022 surrounded by her family in her home. Rita was born February 24, 1933 in New Kensington, PA, the daughter of the late Samuel R. and Josephine R. Demma Olivo. A teacher at heart, Rita earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) in 1954 where she became a lifetime member of the Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority. The first in her family to attend college, she taught home economics for the majority of her career starting in Tarentum, PA. She would go on to teach in the New Kensington-Arnold School District in Pennsylvania as well as various school districts in Westmoreland County. Rita was an advocate for children her entire life teaching nutrition education through the Pennsylvania Department of Education Nutrition Education Program and later in her career with the PACT (Pregnancy Adolescent Childhood Training) Program nurturing and educating mothers and babies. She was affectionately known by all she touched as "Grandma Rita" and "Aunt Rita". Rita had a heart of gold and lived a lifetime of service up until her passing. She was the President of Citizens General Hospital Auxiliary in New Kensington, PA. Her legacy during her tenure as the Auxiliary President was the development of "Safety Town", a hands-on village promoting children safety and the perpetuator of the Citizens General Hospital Nursing Scholarship. Rita was a passionate advocate for The Resource Center serving as a Committee Member for over ten years. She was also an active volunteer for The Bemus Point Track Club providing the most delicious food and desserts to the runners and their families. Her talents were displayed in the many costumes she hand-made for the Lucille Ball Little Theatre, LBLT Junior Guilders, and various school plays and musical productions. She was a Eucharistic Minister at Mount Saint Peter Church in New Kensington, PA and was a current parishioner of St. Mary of Lourdes Church in Bemus Point where she was a member of the Lourdes Ladies group. Her last initiative was volunteering at St. Timothy's Church "5 & 2 Backpack Ministry". She was the most devoted and loving mother to her daughters, Jocelyn Ann Monaco and Kristie Jo (Dr. Anthony) Peppy of Bemus Point, NY. She is also survived by her two grandchildren who were her whole world, Michael Anthony Peppy and Christina Marie Peppy, also of Bemus Point. In addition to her parents, Rita was preceded in death by her husband, Frederick Anthony Monaco, whom she married on July 4, 1955 and who died December 14, 2002. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Mary of Lourdes Catholic Church in Bemus Point, NY. The Rev. Todd Remick will be the celebrant. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends will be received from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Lind Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to The Resource Center, 200 Dunham Avenue, Jamestown, NY 14712.