Rita was a graduate of Bolivar Central School class of 1944 and received an associate degree in business from Rochester Business Institute. Rita was employed at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva. Following her retirement she started her Antique Business “The Cottage Shop” in Hall, NY, retiring in 1987. Rita was a member of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Stanley N.Y. and a member of the Experiment Station Retirees Assoc.
Surviving are eight children, Mike (Patsy) Pettit of Little Genesee, Linda (John) Innamorato of Bolivar, Shawn (Rebecca) Pettit of Bolivar, Frank (April) Pettit of Little Genesee; Pam (Donald) Colerick of Little Genesee; Ron (DeLisa) Pettit of Smithville, Texas, Kim (Pat) Torrey of Bolivar and Barb (Curtis) Burdick of Little Genesee; 40 grandchildren; 65 great-grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; and three siblings, Pete (Pat) McKay, Less (Dee) McKay and Tom (Becky) McKay.
Surviving are four children; Edward (Kerry Nelson) Curtin Albany, Coleen Seuffert Fairport N.Y. James Diane) Curtin Mattapoisett Mass. and John (Judy) Curtin Fairport N.Y. Also surviving are four grandchildren; Lauren (Jordan) Szklany, Chrissy (Steve) Kimmel-Hurt, Melanie Calderone, Nate Curtin and five great grand-children; Evan Szklany, Lucas Szklany, Brooks Kimmel-Hurt, Anthony Calderone, Ryan Calderone and one sister Barbara (Hugh) Lafferty Greenwich CT. She was preceded in death by a grandson Daniel Calderone and a sister Bernadine McKinley.
Friends may call at the Schaffner Funeral Home Inc. Bolivar on Friday February 10, 2017 from 5-7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday February 11, 2017 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church in Bolivar with Fr. Daniel Serbicki as celebrant. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery Bolivar.
