Rita Maria Belbas (nee Mottin)
February 21, 1964 – August 11, 2016
It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of a loving wife, mother, daughter, good friend and loving family member Rita Belbas, who passed away peacefully in St. Joseph’s Hospice with her family by her side on Thursday, August 11, 2016.
Rita was born on February 21, 1964 in Thunder Bay where she spent a large part of her early life in the East End. She attended St. Peter’s School and Selkirk High School.
Rita enjoyed a full life that included a loving family and a wonderful circle of good friends. She treasured her time with longtime friends from the East End who she grew up with and the new close friends she continued to meet along the way. She enjoyed spending time with her husband and three children, the traveling they did as a family together as well as her other travels including her visit to Italy as a child.
Rita enjoyed the many large Italian family dinners cooked by her Nona and her mom, the family and neighborhood barbeques, the camp socials, and working at a variety of places from the age of 14 which included, McDonald’s restaurant, the Da Vinci Centre, Granite Transport, and Thunder Pine Leasing Incorporated.
For all the support Rita gave to her family and friends, she will be truly missed. Rita is survived by her husband Brian Belbas; daughter’s Nicole and Kayla (Nathan Ashmore), and son Bradley, and the family pet Jewels. mother, Bruna Mottin; father, Claudio Mottin, brother Alex Mottin, sister’s Lori Mottin and Nancy (Bert) Despres.
She is survived by her grandmother (nona) Teresa Bertolin and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and family in Italy. She is predeceased by her brother John Mottin, grandparents Alessandro and Zoe Mottin, and uncle GianFranco Bertolin, and grandfather Mario Bertolin.
Funeral Mass for the late Rita Belbas will be held on Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at 10:00am in St. Dominic’s Church, celebrated by Father Thomas Mullamangalam. Interment of ashes will follow in Mountain View Cemetery. If friends and family so desire, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the St Joseph’s Foundation Hospice, the Northern Cancer Fund and/or Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre would be appreciated.
Rita Belbas will be remembered in the Blake Funeral Chapel Memorial Grove. Annual dedication service Sunday, June 11, 2017.
