Rita F. Griffin

Griffin, Rita Leydon
Rita Leydon Griffin, loving wife of the late John Griffin, passed away peacefully surrounded by her children and grandchildren Wednesday, March 19, 2025. She was the daughter of the late Joseph and Mary Ellen (Cullen) Leydon.
Rita was born in Stamford on May 1, 1934, and grew up in "the Cove" with her brothers and sisters. She raised her family for twenty years in Bardonia, NY, and returned home to Stamford in 1985. Rita often talked of an idyllic childhood and working at her father's supermarket on Myrtle Avenue. She attended KT Murphy, St John's and graduated Sacred Heart Academy in 1954. She went on to meet the love of her life, John, a few short years later.
Rita was a woman of profound faith and put her faith to action by volunteering at homeless shelters and providing support for seniors in the Stamford area for many years. She was an active community member at St Bridget of Ireland RC Church and the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians as well as a long time Board Member at Hampshire House. Rita's door was always open and no one was a stranger for long. We will all miss her wit, kindness and compassion tremendously.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her sisters Loretta Leydon and Marion Troy, and brothers Joseph and Jack Leydon. She is survived by her children John (Sue), Kenny (Nadya), Kathleen Waters (Peter) and Christopher (Linda); grandchildren Kathleen Lambert (Dean), Kayla Saylor (Payton), Claire, Sarah, John, Liam, Peter, Madeline, Kayleigh, Polina, Emily, Anastasia, and Connor; great-grandchildren Rosalynn, Savannah and Lillian; and many, many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10am on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at St. John's of Darien R.C. Church, 1986 Post Road, Darien, CT. Interment will follow at St. John's Cemetery, Darien. A reception will be held at The Piedmont Club, 152 Hecker Avenue, Darien, CT., immediately after interment.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County, 461 Glenbrook Rd, Stamford, CT.
We invite all who knew her or her family to celebrate this remarkable woman. Services are under the care of Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home located at 104 Myrtle Ave., Stamford, CT 06902. To send on-line condolences to the family, please visit www.gallagherfuneralhome.com