Rita E. Cullen, 77, The Villages FL passed away peacefully Tuesday, February 11, 2014. She was born June 24, 1936 in Philadelphia Pa. Rita has been a resident of The Villages FL since 1998. In 1967, Rita and her family moved from Philadelphia to Waretown, a New Jersey Shore community. She was very devoted to her family, her husband Frank and raised four children. Her passions were flower gardening, sewing, crocheting, boating, crabbing and fishing in the Barnegat Bay. Rita also began a career with the Ocean Township School retiring as Business Administrator. She was very dedicated and enjoyed her work. Rita was preceded in death by her husband Frank, married 50 years. Together they retired to The Villages in Florida. She discovered a new interest after playing golf for the first time. In her retirement years she also enjoyed playing cards, mah-jongg, always an avid reader, taking short trips, and visits from her children and her grandchildren. She also found the time to volunteer at the hospital in The Villages. She is survived by four loving and devoted children, Frankie of Pittsburgh Pa, Maureen of Burlington NJ, Gregory of Waretown NJ, and Steven of Leesburg Fla; 12 grandchildren; and 3 loving sisters, Margaret Esmond of Berlin NJ, Elva Lennox of Philadelphia Pa, and Claire Baker of Forked River NJ. Rita was a devoted member of St. Timothy Catholic Church in Lady Lake. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Lady Lake on Monday, February 24, 2014 at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Rita’s name to The Villages Hospice, 601 Casa Bella, The Villages, FL 32162 or The American Cancer Society.
