Obituary: Rita E. Maio, 90, of Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT - (From Wallingford Funeral Home) It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Rita E. Maio, on December 2nd, 2021 in Deerfield Beach, Florida. She was born and raised in Wallingford, Connecticut.

Rita met the love of her life at a roller-skating rink. She married Michael "Mickey" Maio in 1951 and they raised their four girls together in Wallingford.

Their next journey took them to Florida in hopes of retirement, but their time together was cut short; Mickey died three years later in 1980. Rita endured many heartbreaks in her life, losing not only her husband but also her five siblings and her grandson Michael.

Through it all, she was strong-willed, effortlessly funny, and ever hopeful. Rita loved music, reading, shopping, and card games, and she reveled in getting her pasta sauce just right. Later in life, she liked using Facebook to stay in touch with friends and family and keep tabs on current events (and occasionally to suggest better, bolder storylines for her favorite daytime soaps).

She enjoyed visiting and traveling with her identical twin sister, Evelyn, and teaching her youngest daughter, Tricia, the most treasured and delicious family recipes.

Her role as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother was always her priority. She instilled the importance of love, family, kindness, and acceptance in all of us.

Rita is survived by her daughter Tricia; her daughter Dolores and son-in-law Brian in Florida; her daughter Che and son-in-law Tyler in Seattle; her daughters Lynne and Liz in Wallingford; her grandchildren: David, Leah, and Dani in Florida, Shane and Daris in New York, and Wren in San Francisco; and her great-grandchildren: Madison, Devin, Michael, and Luke in Florida, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Dear mom, in our hearts you will always be, your love, your voice, your smile are forever with us. Always loved, forever missed.

A graveside service will be held at 11 am on Friday, December 10, 2021 at St. John Cemetery, 401 Christian Street, Wallingford. You can view her service via Livestream by going to her webpage at www.wallingfordfh.com at 11 am on Friday.

In lieu of flowers gifts in her memory can be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. (www.stjude.org).