Rita Joy Bova Taylor

Rita Joy Bova Taylor passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, December 22, 2017, following a brief illness. She was 88 years old. A New Orleans native, Rita was born on December 21, 1929, and spent 50 years living in Metairie. She was a devoted parishioner of St Angela Medici Church where she attended Mass daily. She was a member of the St Angela Ladies Association. A floral designer by trade, she voluntarily arranged and placed the church flowers each week for nearly 20 years. Rita was a graduate of John Dibert School and a 1947 graduate of the - then - all girls Eleanor Laura McMain High School in Uptown New Orleans. Rita was active in many organizations serving in the Mother's Club at St Anthony of Padua School, Leader of Brownie Troop 303, and president of the Mother's Club at John Dibert School. Additionally, she was a 50 year member of the Whitney Heights Garden Club where she served in various roles included two terms as president, plus a member of the Jefferson Parish Council of Garden Clubs, Inc. An accomplished artist and floral designer, Rita competed in - and won - an abundance of competition awards. She also gave presentations on floral designing throughout the Greater New Orleans Area. She was a community servant having volunteered with the March of Dimes, the St. Vincent Maternity Guild, The Center of Jesus Soup Kitchen and the American Heart Association. She belonged to several social organizations including the Thursday Morning Church Ladies Coffee Club, the Red Hat Hotties of Metairie, the Misfits Card Club, a Bunco group and the New Orleans Cefalutana Society. However, Rita considered her family as her greatest accomplishment, with four children, six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents Nuzio Saccone and Angelina Cefalu Saccone, fraternal grandparents Felicia Greco Bova and Francesco Bova, her parents Sarah Saccone Bova and Salvadore J. Bova, her stepmother Pauline Buffa Bova, sister Jean Bova Benner, her former husband Eddie Taylor, former mother-in-law Carrie Buras Taylor, daughter-in-law Janet Bosler Taylor and great grandson Mason Killian Mulkey. Rita is survived by her children Beth Ann Taylor, Michael James Taylor, Timothy Anthony Taylor (Stacey Jane), Thomas Andrew Taylor (Maurya); her grandchildren Tina Taylor Mulkey (Jamie), Nichole Taylor Stahl, Alexandra Taylor Davis (Ryan), Chance Taylor, Morgan Taylor, and Travis Taylor; her great grandchildren Hunter Mulkey, Bailey Mulkey, Seth Stahl, Mikayla Stahl, Aidan Mulkey and Cooper Mulkey. Rita is also survived by her niece Susan Carballo Beadle (Florida), her nephews Jack Carballo (Pennsylvania), Milton Kinler (Mississippi), Henry Kenner (Metairie), Wade Johnston (Metairie), and Godchild Joy Barhanovich Tucei (Mississippi). Rita's life will be remembered and celebrated with a funeral mass at Noon on Wednesday, December 27, at St. Angela Merici Church, 835 Melody Drive, near Veterans Highway and Bonnabel Boulevard in Metairie. Family and friends are invited to attend the visitation at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at Saint Vincent DePaul #2 Cemetery, 1401 Louisa Street, New Orleans. An online guestbook is available at www.leitzeaganfuneralhome.com.