Rita H. Robustelli

She was the beloved wife of the late Albert G. Robustelli for 67 years until his death in 2015.

Born in Greenwich, CT, she was the daughter of the late Rocco and Angelina (Bruno) Benvenuto. She is survived by one brother, Anthony Benvenuto and his wife Claudette of Riverside, CT. She was predeceased by her brothers, Frank Benvenuto and Emil Benvenuto.

She graduated from Greenwich High School in 1944 and met the love of her life, Albert, shortly after. They were married in 1948 and raised two daughters. Rita continued to work as a Medical Assistant for various doctors in Connecticut, until she and her husband retired in 1988 and moved to Sandwich and later Marstons Mills on Cape Cod.

Rita enjoyed cooking and crocheting. At the age of 76, she started a cooking class in her Sandwich home for a group of five 11-year-old girls. They called her the “Cooking Teacher of the Century” and she was featured in an article in the local newspaper. Her crocheting ability was well known at Falmouth Hospital, where she was given recognition for her donation of over 350 baby hats for the maternity department.

While in Marstons Mills, Rita became a regular caller to the Ed Lambert In The Morning radio program on WXTK. She became so well known, that every year the station still wished her a happy birthday up until when she turned 94 this past April.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Jean Bowden, Christine Covell and her longtime partner William Lewis; her grandchildren, Justin Gustavsson, Laura Campbell and her husband Daniel Mawhinney, Abigail Bowden, Michelle Covell and her spouse Allison Hurley; and great-grandchildren, Dylan Covell, Owen Covell and Freeman Campbell.

A private graveside service will take place at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, where she will be buried with her husband.

Expressions of sympathy in her memory may be made to the Institute of Professional Practice, Inc. at IPPI Advancement Office, PO Box 1249, Montpelier, VT 05601 or online at ippi.org/donate.