With heavy hearts, the family of Rita Zappitelli announce her passing on May 16, 2016 at the age of 61, after a lengthy illness.
Rita was born in Morano Calabro, Cosenza, Italy on March 2, 1955. She moved to Canada in 1967 with her family, at the age of 12.
Rita made many friends throughout the years while working at Purity Bread, Buset’s and Safeway, where she worked until she became ill. In 1977, Rita married Jim Zappitelli and together they raised a beautiful family that meant the world to Rita. Family was Rita’s priority and she would have loved to have had the chance to enjoy her 5 grandchildren.
Rita loved family gatherings and welcoming friends into her home. Her husband and children have many happy memories of vacations, hockey tournaments and celebrations together.
Rita will be sadly missed by her husband of 38 years, Jim Zappitelli, her children, Tony (Laura) Zappitelli and Michelle (Keith) Ahtila, her grandchildren, Marcus and Mason Zappitelli and Leo, Kyle and Sarah Ahtila. She will be missed by her siblings Nicola (Lucia) Bernaudo, Aldo (Vanda) Bernaudo, Anna (Armando) Pucci, Rosa (Brad) Martin and Silvana (Paul) Rocco. Rita is also survived by her father-in-law, Antonio Zappitelli and her sister-in-law, Michele (Domenic) Antenucci.
She will be remembered by her many nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles. Rita was predeceased by her parents Salvatore and Adelina Bernaudo and her mother-in-law Carmella Zappitelli as well as her Grandparents. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, May 19, 2016, when family and friends will gather at 10:00 am at St. Dominic’s Church, 130 Redwood Avenue. Interment will follow at St. Andrew’s Cemetery.
Prayers will be offered at 8:00 pm on Wednesday evening at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Thunder Bay.
Rita Zappitelli will be remembered in the Blake Funeral Chapel Memorial Grove. Annual dedication service Sunday, June 11, 2017.
