Rita Maria Rodriguez Brito

Rita Maria Brito was born on May 22, 1926 in Habana Cuba. She married her sweetheart by proxy in Habana and flew to New York to start her life with her first love, Manuel Vega. They lived in Brooklyn, N.Y, where her 3 children Maria, Lorenzo and Clara were born. She lost her first husband at a very young age and God blessed her with love and she married Maxiste Brito in Habana, Cuba. She had to leave her new husband behind and take her 3 children when the U.S. Government told their citizens in Cuba that they could leave now with them or they would not be responsible for those U.S. citizens that chose to stay. She made one of the hardest decisions in her life and chose the welfare of her children first. She left her new husband in Cuba and flew to N.Y. The Lord blessed her and reunited them in N.Y. later. She was about to celebrate her 54th wedding anniversary in July 2012 with the man who was by her side all those years and raised her children as his own.

In her youth Rita was a beautiful woman with a great voice. A beauty queen who chose to not pursue her dream of becoming a singer in order to dedicate her life to her children and husband.

There was never a person in need that she did not help. She can rest in peace knowing she changed not only the lives of her family and friends but many strangers that crossed her path.

That smile never left her face. How she loved her children, grandchildren, and lately her only reason for living were her great grandchildren.

In February of this year she lost her youngest daughter Clara Malone to cancer. Her heart was broken and she tried to be strong for her family.

She is survived by her

• husband Maxiste Brito

• son Lorenzo Vega and and wife Regina, daughter Maria Alvarenga and husband Ofilio

• grandchildren Kimberly Fales, Kerrie Hass, Lawrence Vega and Mark Alvarenga

• great grandchildren Tyler and Samantha Fales, Christian and Olivia Vega, Sydney and Andrew Hass , Karolina and Kamila Alvarenga

She will also be remembered with love by her extended family.

• her step daughters Osilia and Juana

• her step grandchildren Walter and Robert

• her step great grandchildren Isabella, Daniel, Brandon, Pamela and Jonathan