Rita M. Meehan

Rita Marie (McCarthy) Meehan, 82, passed away peacefully on January 25, 2013 at the Villa Marie Claire Hospice House in Saddle River, NJ, after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer.

Rita was born in NYC on February 12, 1930 to Richard and Katherine McCarthy. She was a graduate of St. Nicholas of Tolentine, Class of 1948, Kathryn Gibbs Secretarial School, and she attended Hunter College in Manhattan. She worked as a secretary for Motion Picture Exports and Union Carbide before taking on the full-time role of wife and mother.

Rita loved spending time with family and friends. Growing up, she spent summers at Lake Lincolndale in Somers, NY. Later, she enjoyed vacations at the Jersey shore and traveling with her husband in their retirement years.

Rita was a long-time resident of Suffern, NY and will be remembered by many as their beloved piano teacher. Her home was a welcoming place where family and friends often gathered. She was proud of her Irish heritage and loved to sing songs from the golden era. She was a lifetime member of the Ladies Auxiliary and a member of the Torne Valley, Ramapo, Suffern, and Retreat Senior Clubs.

Rita is survived by her four children, Theresa Keane and her husband Brian of Nashua, NH, son John and his wife Danielle of Suffern, NY, Rita Wells and her husband Mark of Plantation, FL, and Rich and his wife Gwen of Ashburn, VA, and eleven grandchildren, Caitlin, Darcy, and Alexa Keane, Kirsten, Dana, and Shauna Meehan, Spencer Wells, and Andrew, Jordan, Natalie, and Jack Meehan. She is also survived by two brothers, Richard McCarthy of Landsdale, PA and Vincent McCarthy and his wife Patricia of Nashua, NH. She is predeceased by her husband John, who died in December 2004.

Calling hours will be held at Wanamaker and Carlough Funeral Home, 177 Route 59, Suffern, NY on Sunday, January 27 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. A mass of Christian burial will be held at Sacred Heart Church in Suffern, NY on Monday, January 28 at 11:00 a.m., followed by interment at Ascension Cemetery in Monsey, NY.