With deep sadness we announce the passing of Rita, our beloved mother, wonder woman, loving wife, thoughtful sister, caring nonni, and kind aunt, on December 25, 2020. She joined our Heavenly Father while surrounded by her family, after a strong and very brave battle with metastatic breast cancer at 64 years young.
Born in Sicily, Italy to the late Torquato and Margherita Torquati, she arrived in New York at an early age growing up in and around Greenwich Village. She spoke of her childhood in New York fondly. She even got bopped on the nose by the late Davy Jones of The Monkees at the age of ten.
From there she made her way to New Orleans, where she started a family with her loving husband, Jack (Gioacchino) Votano, settling in Columbia, MS.
Rita was a kind and creative soul. She enjoyed painting, drawing, crochet and photography. She was often caught trying to get the best candid shots of her children much to their dismay come their teenage years. But today we know a picture is worth a thousand words and like the memories of our sweet, sweet mother we will cherish each and every one.
She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts. If you knew her you know she was one of the kindest souls. The word “no” was not in her vocabulary. She helped anyone that asked. She tried to see the good in everyone, even if no one else could. She showed us what strength really looks like. She was deeply devoted to her family and loved them most of all.
She will be devastatingly missed by her children, Margarita (Lucas) Thomas, Anna (Nick) Colvin, Bridget (Anthony) Broome, and Vittorio Votano; grandchildren: Robby, Nicholas, Nevaeh, Adilynn, Analeigh, Alayna, Audrina, Ollie, and Magnolia. She will also be sorely missed by her brothers, Giovanni (Tina) Torquati, Robert Torquati and her sister Patricia (Jimmy) Somma, nieces, nephews and cousins.
She is preceded in death by her courageous parents, her loving husband, and her beautiful sister, Maria Babino.
Visitation will be held at Colonial Funeral Home, 323 Second Street, Columbia, MS 39429 on Thursday, December 31, 2020 from 1:00pm until service time. The funeral service, officiated by Father Tommy Conway, will be at 2:00pm in the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery.
