Rita Agatha Sitney

Rita was second of 9 children: Stephen (d), Anesthesia, Joanne, Carmen, Muriel (d), Anslem, Egbert, and Dessa. She was the sister-in-law of Ena a.k.a. Sandra, Fraudine and Val.

At the age of 3 Rita moved from Cafe to Durant Road, Lasouse, Grenville to live with her father Nathan and her grandmother Anestine Eugina Sitney. She attended the Roman Catholic school which was commonly known as the “Old Church”. As a young child living with her grandmother, Rita gained a business sense and experience by helping her grandmother make cocoa balls and coconut oil which they sold in the local market.

Later, as a young adult, Rita started off by selling roasted peanuts at the entrance of the Deluxe Cinema to moviegoers and selling ice cream at the front of the Grenville market in order to provide for her family. In the early sixties, Rita found herself in the restaurant business when her sister-in-law and her husband offered her full time employment as a cook in their Chinese restaurant, “Lucky Star”. After that restaurant closed its doors, she found employment at “Sea Heaven” as the main cook. The owner of “Sea Heaven” passed away and Rita started her own restaurant with only $500. She became well established in the community, and with the growth of the business she moved to a bigger location with a big and bold sign, RITZ RESTAURANT AND BAR. RITZ Restaurant became the talk of the town for tasty food, friendly atmosphere and refreshing bar. It was patronized by politicians, police officers, teachers, students and the local community.

In 1972 Rita traveled to the United Kingdom where she lived and worked for a year, also visiting her brother, sister and other relatives. She returned to Grenada one year later and continued with her business.

Rita migrated to the United States in 1976 when her son Francis Sitney sponsored her. One year later she was able to do the same for her three younger children. As a very hard worker, she brought those ethics with her to the United States, immediately finding employment in the housekeeping department at the Gramercy Inn. Next she advanced to Housekeeping Management at the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel in Washington DC, encountering many dignitaries and celebrities during her long tenure. After the Four Seasons, Rita worked in housekeeping management at the National Institute of Health from where she retired in 1999.

Always a follower of Christ, Rita was baptized and was very active in The Catholic Church from a young age. She later joined and was baptized again at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden and was an active member. She participated in the Agape ministry for seniors, travelling around the United States and even Canada and volunteering locally with this group. She took pride in service and after retirement she spent her days at church or with her church group as well as taking care of her grandchildren and “adopted” grandchildren including Taariq, Khalid and Alexandria.

Rita also enjoyed travelling with her sons and their families to New York, Canada, Grenada as well as the family reunions of her daughter in law.

Rita was known for her cooking and baking, she could cook EVERYTHING. Some of her specialties included Rice and Peas, Curry Chicken, Jerk Chicken, Oxtails, Salt Fish and Bakes, Split Pea Soup, Callalou, as well as Black Cake and Pound Cake. She enjoyed puzzles, soap operas, reading her Bible, reading her Daily Word and tending to her plants and garden.

Her laughter and lively spirit were infectious and she enjoyed singing and dancing to Gospel, Calypso, Caribbean, Top 40's, Reggae and R&B Music.

Rita had 7 children: Orlando Oswald Sitney (Bernadette), Francis Simon Sitney, Michael S. Sitney, Adolphus John Sitney (Ladonna), Val Sitney (d), Elwyn Sitney (d) and Glenson Christopher Sitney

(Keisha), 16 grandchildren: Dwayne, Renée, Keisha, Tonya, Andrea, Natasha, Amina, Kendall, Rita, Rhea, Krystiana, Terrell, Takeya, Adolphus Jr., Christopher and Cameren, and 14 great-grandchildren: Zoe, Logan, Devin, Kevin, Rasheed, Eleanor, Solomon, Naomi, Ruthelle, Talayha, Tatyana, Tristan, Amir and Leah.

Rita also leaves countless nieces and nephews including Shirley, Leon, Norma, Faye, William, Ellis, Debra, Lucy, Lorna, Linda, Scott, David, Maureen, Avril, and Martin in the United Kingdom; Sybil, Dennis, Elena, David, Mia, Kenny, Mike, Miranda, Kester, Denia, Donia, Denis, and Deron in the United States; Rodney, Rawl, Joseph, Reeca, Alex, Al, Geraldine, and Ashton in Grenada as well as the John family of Plaisance and Walker, Deborah, Iystra, Earl, Don and the rest of the Sitney family in Trinidad.

While we mourn the loss of our beloved mother, we know she lived a life full of zest and left a legacy of love with all whom she encountered. The family thanks you for your thoughts, prayers, and acts of kindness