Rita Catherine Lynch

Rita was born on December 2, 1929, to Margaret E. (nee Devine) McGurty and James F. McGurty, who worked for the Newark Fire Department as a firefighter until his demise from fighting a fire when Rita was just 16 years old. Rita had two siblings, James and Jean, both of whom were severely disabled and predeceased her in their 50s.

Rita graduated from Saint Vincent Academy (SVA), a Catholic college-preparatory high school for young women located in the city of Newark, in 1947. In her youth after school, Rita worked as a salesgirl for Fanny Farmer candy manufacturer and retailer.

Gregarious and full of personality and charm, Rita was a founding and lifelong (80+ years) active member of the SVA Onzettes, a group of 11 friends who first came together at Sacred Heart Elementary School in Newark.

Rita attended Washington School for Secretaries in Newark and worked as a secretary at Benjamin Moore & Co., where she met her husband of 48 years, chemist John "Jack" E. Lynch. Rita and Jack were married on March 31, 1951. With Rita’s gracious help raising their family and assisting with the social commitments necessary as Jack climbed the corporate ladder, Jack would serve on the paint company’s board of directors and retired as vice president of operations in 1989.

After their honeymoon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the couple lived in West Caldwell, N.J., for more than six years. Rita was a definite doer and trendsetter: with expert guidance she laid the foundation, helped put up the walls, installed floor-to-ceiling jalousie windows and storm doors, and finished the roofing of the large porch off the back of their home on Dawson Drive.

For more than two years, the couple were relocated by the world's best paint manufacturer to Whittier in Southern California, where, in 1957, they adopted their first child, Kenneth M. Lynch, at birth. The family moved back to New Jersey in 1959, where they discovered and bought the model home for Collins Estates in Livingston, where Rita resided for the past 66 years.

The Lynchs adopted their second child, Richard J. Lynch, at birth in 1960.

Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Rita was asked to model new designs by the husband-and-wife team known as Budd Fashions, of Roseland, N.J. Rita worked in the children's department at Bonwit Teller & Co. in the Short Hills Mall and, into the 1980s, at Liss's Center Pharmacy in Livingston. When she was 20, Rita was featured in the Newark Star-Ledger newspaper’s calendar on August 21, 1949, for promoting annual enjoyable summer escapes to Belmar, N.J., and the Jersey Shore. Over the years, she was asked to model for various fundraising events on many runways.

Also in the 1960s and 70s, Rita and her neighbors would rotate hosting indoor themed block parties — for the adults only, sans children — to enjoy periodic fun nights out. She and her immediate neighbors Jeanne, Cookie, and Penny Mariani played cards together and rotated hosting the games at each of their homes. Rita was a member and strong supporter of the friends of St. Padre Pio, and a regular participant in the Livingston Senior & Community Center's Bingo! and other social events when possible throughout her later life.

After the demise of her husband on March 5, 1999, Rita managed both their northern and southern New Jersey properties. Her best friend and neighbor of more than 60 years, Ruth "Cookie" Marinello, helped Rita confirm her accounting thoughts as needed and passed on helpful hints to Rita, like keeping some cash around for life’s inevitable emergencies. After Superstorm Sandy in October 2012, Rita worked very hard and seemingly nonstop for approximately two years with FEMA to finally be awarded some help for raising her totaled shore property. These things were done as always done previously, that is, without the aid of computers or the shortcuts we now take for granted, or even a partner with whom to share the burden.

Rita was a shining light, a bright beam in our lives: a loving mother, a true friend, and a passionate dog lover. Her warmth and kindness touched everyone she met. At the Church of St. Philomena in Livingston, Rita and her best buddy, Mimi Streleck, volunteered together to be church greeters to fellow parishioners. Rita also was a member of the church Rosary Society and Rosary Maker's Guild and regularly hosted rosary-making events in her home. With help in the finish only from her good across-the-street neighbor Jeanne Ekman, Rita knit beautiful throws and blankets for her children, herself, and the many beloved dogs in her life: Sandy, JackRi, Pebbles, Troubles, Holly, Kelly, Molly, Maggie, Buster, and Luke.

Rita knew heartache: She was preceded in death early in life by James F. McGurty, her father; Jean McGurty and James McGurty, her sister and brother; John "Jack" E. Lynch, her husband, on March 5, 1999; Kenneth M. Lynch, her first son, on May 6, 2018; Kathleen "Kathy" E. Battis, her cousin and the flower girl in her wedding party, on November 29, 2019; and all of the friends and neighbors mentioned above.

Rita is survived by Richard J. Lynch, her second son, and his spouse Francis "Frank" J. Steil, of San Francisco; and relatives Steven Schwankert, cousin, of Highland Heights, N.J.; Barbara and Ed Golankiewicz, cousins, of Warren, N.J., and their children, including Gigi Kisling, cousin, of Basking Ridge, N.J., Kevin Golankiewicz, cousin, of Union Beach, N.J., and Chris Golankiewicz, cousin, of Long Valley N.J.; and many friends, including Samuel “Sam” C. Jennings of San Francisco, who visited with her quarterly for three to six weeks at a time over the last two decades preparing delicious memorable meals and sharing trips to the beach, around the block, out for ice cream cones, and making many lasting happy memories together and with friends.

Rita was inspired by her mother, Margaret E. (nee Devine) McGurty, who she witnessed as a single mother from age 16 onward having to fight for every little thing just to survive and who kept notes on all the political shenanigans of her day, and by her mother-in-law, Helen “Nellie” F. (nee Barry) Lynch, who also became a single mother shortly after the birth of her son, Jack, when her husband suddenly died, worked hard to pay off three mortgages, purchase a summer cottage down the shore for her grandchildren to enjoy, and paid for their college educations, all while working as a secretary for the painters union, where she helped establish unions in the U.S.

In lieu of flowers or any gifts, memorial contributions may be made in Rita's honor to the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation at https://action.aclu.org/give/tax-deductible-aclu-gift-daf/. Though she's no longer with us, Rita's spirit will forever remain in our hearts, and the memories of her love and laughter, as well as her determination, will continue to brighten our lives.

Family and Friends are invited to attend Rita's Memorial Mass on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 11:30 AM at Saint Philomena Roman Catholic Church, 386 S Livingston Ave, Livingston, N.J. 07039, with a Committal to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery & Mausoleum, 225 Ridgedale Ave, East Hanover, N.J. 07936. For those of you who wish to join the Procession to the church, please arrive at 10:30 AM at Quinn Hopping Funeral Home, 145 East Mount Pleasant Ave, Livingston, N.J. 07039.

Please see the link for Rita's Mass below:

https://boxcast.tv/view/funeral-mass-for-rita-lynch-b1d8yqaf6ytijvku05s2