Rheta And Frank Sellitti

Rheta and Frank Sellitti, formerly of the Lehigh Valley, passed away recently within a few short weeks of each other. Rheta was born in 1934 to Lesley and Elizabeth Van Pelt Keansberg, NJ and Frank was born in 1927 in Newburg, NY to Charles and Camille Sellitti. They eventually met and married and shared 47 wonderful years together. A Navy veteran, Frank enlisted in the US Navy during WWII and served in the South Pacific aboard the destroyer the USS Plunkett. He was later recalled in 1951 and served during the Korean War. Frank was employed by Fuller Company in Allentown as Plant Manager for many years and retained as a Quality Control Consultant, traveling extensively worldwide inspecting and expediting Fuller equipment. He developed and pursued a life-long love for scuba diving, was a member of St. Thomas More, R.C.C. for many years and raised four children. An aspiring singer, Rheta would perform occasionally on cruise ships departing from the Port of Miami over the years while also working a full-time job and raising three daughters as a single mother. After moving to the Lehigh Valley, Rheta worked locally for Mack Travel, then Mack Marketing Communications and the PA Department of Transportation until her retirement, when she took art classes and became an avid painter. In their spare time, Frank and Rheta loved travelling together. They enjoyed visiting beautiful Caribbean islands and beaches up and down the Atlantic seaboard, wintering for many years as snowbirds near the Florida Gulf Coast. They also loved driving through the Pennsylvania countryside in Frank's convertible Alfa Romeo and enjoyed taking their grandchildren on a number of memorable vacations. Frank is survived by his sister Gloria, wife of Donald McDermott, of West Hills, CA, sons Anthony Sellitti, husband of Lisa, of Bethlehem, PA and Charles Sellitti, husband of Angel, of Albany, NY. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 15 great-children. Rheta Sellitti is survived by her daughters Debbie Roque of Clayton, NC and Robin Mathews of Miami, FL; her grandchildren Ashley Hengst, wife of Jen in Southern CA, and Kyle Roque, husband of Shameka of Raleigh, NC. She was also predeceased by her daughter Jenny Mathews of Miami, FL. Frank was predeceased by his two step-sons, Patrick H. Irwin of Arizona and Jerry Irwin of Ohio. A Funeral Service honoring both Rheta and Frank will be held Friday, June 20, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Stephens Funeral Home, 274 N. Krocks Rd, Allentown, PA 18106. A Calling Hour will precede the service from 1:00-2:00.