Rita Buonocore

1929 - 2025

Rita Buonocore
Rita C. Buonocore, 96, passed away peacefully, at home, on November 13, 2025, in Jacksonville Beach, FL. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Gregory Peter Buonocore, Sr., and son, David Gerard Buonocore.
Rita was born July 11, 1929, and was the last surviving child of the late Frank and Francesca (Arena) Cianciolo. Her siblings were Mary Lazzari, Rose DeMaio, Ann Sullivan, Dorothy Cianciolo, Frances Cianciolo, Frank Cianciolo, Victoria Cianciolo, Elna Cianciolo, Pauline Daley, Lucille Pegnataro, Catherine Pegnataro, and Joan Cianciolo. Rita is survived by her children, Gregory Peter, Jr. (Theresa) Buonocore of Orange Park, FL, Rita Frances Buonocore (Jennifer, partner) of Vancouver, WA, and Francesca Arena Buonocore of Jacksonville Beach, FL, with whom she resided for the past two years. She will be missed by her six grandchildren, David Michael (Lindsey), Gregory Peter, III (Paulina), Andrew, Adria, Alena, Gianna, and her five great-granddaughters, Marlena Rita, McKenna, Olivia, Lucy and Emilia.
Rita loved growing up in Guilford, close to the center of town, in her large household of eleven sisters and one brother. Her father owned a fruit and vegetable market on the Guilford Green, and her mother was a wonderful homemaker. Rita's work life began at New Haven Bank, NBA, where she worked for eight years. She took a break from banking when she married on February 2,1957 and started her family with her beloved husband in Branford, before moving to North Haven, where she lived for over 50 years. After her children were in school, she returned to work as a teller at Connecticut Savings Bank (CSB) in North Haven and then in the Spring Glen branch. She genuinely enjoyed working the drive up and helping customers with their banking needs. She continued employment at CSB in New Haven, working in the mortgaging service department for nine years, then to Centerbank in Waterbury as a mortgage loan servicing specialist for two years before retiring in September 1994. After her husband passed away in October of 1987, she took on the role of payroll manager for his business, Core Messenger Service, alongside her son, Gregory, and daughter-in-law, Theresa, for 18 years. She spent her final years in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.
Rita was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, who loved raising and caring for her family. She enjoyed cooking (especially baking), entertaining, tending to her plants, gardening, working in the yard, music, dancing, and theatre, particularly musicals. She was extremely strong, hardworking, generous, caring, and welcoming. In her retirement, she enjoyed traveling with her sister, Paula, and her daughters.
Family and friends are invited to call on Friday, November 21st, from 9 – 10 am at Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church Street, Guilford, CT. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. George Church, 33 Whitfield Street, Guilford, CT at 10:30 am. Interment will be in All Saints Cemetery, 700 Middletown Avenue, North Haven, CT 06473. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rita's memory to The Foundation of Community Hospice & Palliative Care, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257, or give online at thefoundationcares.org/give .
Please visit her Tribute online at www.quinn-shalz.com . Arrangements by Quinn Shalz Funeral Home, 904-249-1100.