Rita Elizabeth O'Sullivan Garramone

Rita Elizabeth O’Sullivan Garramone passed away peacefully on June 26, 2025 at the age of 105. She was a resident at The Jefferson in Arlington, Virginia. Born in New York City on November 30, 1919 to Catherine (Baker) O’Sullivan and Jeremiah Francis O’Sullivan. She was the youngest of six children and was preceded in death by her siblings, Marguerite, Johanna, James, John and Catherine. She received a full college scholarship which she gave up to attend Katherine Gibbs secretarial school in order to quickly contribute to the family income since two of her brothers were out of work and had families to support. She worked for Uniroyal (now Michelin) for many years, retiring as Personal Manager. In May of 1942, she married John O’Shaughnessy with whom she had two children, Janet and Joseph O’Shaughnessy. Widowed in 1949, she moved in with her parents and continued working while caring for Janet and Joe, both of whom had serious health issues.

In January of 1960 she married the love of her life, John Garramone, and together with “their” children moved to New Rochelle, New York where they lived for several years. She was an amazing woman! Nothing stopped her. She met all of life’s challenges with courage, her strong faith, kindness, and a great sense of humor. She made friends and kept them for many years throughout her life, several for over 70 years. She was beloved, Aunt Rita, to her many nieces and nephews and to their children and grandchildren as well. Her granddaughters, Joey-Michelle and Morrigan Rose, called her grandma and delighted in her company. She was proud of her children and rejoiced in their successes and consoled them in their losses.

She is survived by her children and grandchildren, Joey Michelle Hutchison and Morrigan Rose O’Shaughnessy. She is also survived by her nieces, Hilma Nolan, Anne Fortunato and Karla (Jim) La Bella and all of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the staff of The Jefferson for their excellent care of both “Miss Rita” and Johnny for over fifteen years. Liza John, assisted living coordinator, and Deborah Kline, former associate executive director, were part of their journeys for all those years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Arlington, VA.

A funeral mass for Rita will be held Wednesday, July 9, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at St. Ann Roman Catholic Church, 5300 10th St N, Arlington, VA 22205. Following the funeral mass will be an interment from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM at Columbia Gardens Cemetery, 3411 Arlington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201.