Rita Squillace, a wonderful person, bid farewell to her earthly home in Charlottesville, Virginia on Sunday, December 8, 2024, after a brief illness. She was often described as a friendly and caring person by people who knew her. Rita, the fourth daughter of Joseph Saurini and Mary Petitti, was born in Rome, New York. Rita and her husband Frank John Squillace were married nearly sixty-two (62) years.

Rita received a BS degree in Education from SUNY Oswego. She began her career as an elementary school teacher, and later worked in the insurance business. In retirement, Rita continued to teach English as a Second Language and customer service courses.

Rita enjoyed cooking, playing cards and mahjong with friends and listening to music from opera to rock and roll. Rita and Frank raised their family in Syracuse, NY before retiring to Cape Coral, FL for 25 years. She and Frank attended Saint Thomas Aquinas parish in Charlottesville, VA.

Rita is survived by her husband Frank, her sister Gloria (Cape Coral, FL), her three sons Frank (Jane Dittmar), Charlottesville, Michael (Lisa) Lake Como, Italy, and Joe (Amy Blouin), St. Louis, MO, twelve grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, January 31, 2025, at Saint John the Baptist Church, 210 E. Dominick St., Rome, NY.  The family will receive friends and family beginning at 10:00 -11:00 am, prior to the Funeral Mass. 

Memorial contributions in Rita’s name may be made to the Society of Saint Vincent DePaul at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, 401 Alderman Road, Charlottesville, VA, 22903 and St. John the Baptist Church, 210 E. Dominick Street, Rome, NY 13440. 

Arrangements are by the Nicholas J. Bush Funeral Home, Inc., 7751 Merrick Rd., Rome, NY 13440.

To offer online condolences, please visit www.njbushfuneralhome.com