Rita Squillace

1940 - 2024

Rita Squillace, a wonderful person, bid farewell to her earthly home in Charlottesville, VA, 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, NY. Rita and her husband, Frank John Squillace, were married nearly 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 St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Charlottesville, VA.

Rita is survived by her husband, Frank; her sister, Gloria (Cape Coral, FL); 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 celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 31, 2025, at St. John the Baptist Church, 210 E. Dominick St., Rome. The family will receive friends and family from 10:00 -11:00 a.m., prior to the Funeral Mass.

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

Arrangements are with the Nicholas J. Bush Funeral Home, Inc., 7751 Merrick Rd., Rome. To offer online condolences, please visit www.njbushfuneralhome.com.