Photo courtesy of Brooklawn Funeral Home - Rocky Hill
Oct 25, 1937 - Feb 24, 2025
We extend our deepest sympathies at this time and thank you for entrusting us with the care of your loved one.
Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Luke E. DiMaria and the Staff of Brooklawn Funeral Home/Giuliano-Sagarino
March 03, 2025 | Rocky Hill, CT
May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief. You all have our deepest sympathy. We love you all
Lenny and Cathy Bartone
April 28, 2025 | Wethersfield, CT | Friend
Remembered By
Lenny & Cathy Bartone
April 28, 2025 | Friend
Linda, Donny and Family, so sorry for your loss of Mom...
She certainly was a great accomplished lady...
We will keep all in our thoughts and prayers
Sam Cusano
March 12, 2025 | Rocky Hill, CT | Friend
If the true measure of life's wealth is friends we make, then Rita was the wealthiest woman I ever had the pleasure of meeting. May the good memories you shared bring you comfort and the sad memories remind you of the strength you share as Rita's kids.
Gina and Tony CARBONE
March 06, 2025 | Wethersfield, CT | Acquaintance
May you be eternally happy and again with your husband in heaven. You will missed and thought of often. Love Pat Thurber
Patricia Thurber
March 06, 2025 | Limestone, ME | Friend
Melissa and I sending our sincere condolences to you and your family
Brian Renouf
March 05, 2025 | Newington, CT
Rita was a great friend and person. She was kind, loyal and always laughing. Rita will be missed greatly and thought of often. She was a great friend to both myself and my life partner Anthony Imbruglia Sr. who played with his band at Rita and Al's hotel. Rita was always there to listen and help. She always made time for her friends. Always laughing and smiling and hugging her friends. She was a beautiful person inside and out. I am sure she is in heaven with AL and Tony, and watching over...
Patricia Thurber
March 03, 2025 | Limestone, ME | Friend
To my 2nd mom. I will forever have you in my heart. Memories with you in my early years and throughout my life will go on forever. Our long talks and heart to heart conversations over tea will be missed.
I loved you then, I love you now and I will love you forever. Thank you from the bottom of my soul for taking my moms place when she passed. She passed the rights of "mom" to you and you did her proud!
Love you always - Your step-daughter Susan
Susan Cassile
March 03, 2025 | Plainville, CT | Family
Rita Rochelle Scelza, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend passed away peacefully on February 24th, 2025 surrounded by loved ones. She was born in New London, Connecticut.
Rita’s life was full of excitement. She spent early years working in New York City as a cigarette girl at the Copacabana and The Latin Quarters. She also worked at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun Casinos where she met many celebrities who became her friends. She shared many memories with Lucille Ball, Tony Bennett, Jimmy Duante and Peter Lawford. She traveled to Miami to work at the Fontainebleau. She met the love of her life Alfred Scelza at sound view beach in Old Lyme, CT in 1956 who’d she’d marry just one year later. They ran The Hotel Branmor on the strip of Sound View which they later retired from in 1995. Rita spent most of her recent days having lunch with friends, rolling dice at the casino, walking Sound View where she was known as the Queen and vacationing at her condo in West Palm beach, Florida.
Rita is predeceased by her husband Alfred and brother Frank Pecora of Louisville, KY. She is succeeded by her children Al and Donald of Groton, Hellene and her husband Michael of Wethersfield, and Linda of Rocky Hill. She is also leaving behind her step daughter Susan Cassile of Plainville. Her grandchildren Alfred of Florida, Nicole, Laura, and Krista of Groton, Ralph and Jenn Cocco of Montana, Rachael and Michael of Wethersfield and Alyssa, Reno, Ryder of Rocky Hill and great grandchildren Gianna, MJ, Jaedan, Tyzae, Brooklynn, Sadie, Lillian, Jovanni, Chloe, Luci and her favorite fur baby Roman. She also leaves behind many friends and family members who she loved very much. Rita lived a beautiful life, her presence always filled room. She loved her family and while she will be forever missed, her legacy will always live on.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 7th, 2025 at 11 a.m. directly in St. Josephine Bakhita Church, St. James Campus, 767 Elm Street. Rocky Hill. Interment will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. Family and Friends are invited to the Giuliano-Sagarino Funeral Home at BROOKLAWN, 511 Brook St. Rocky Hill on Thursday, March 6th from 4-7p.m. For online guestbook please visit www.brooklawnfuneralhome.com.
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