Rita Marie (Komor) Vaglica, 89, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 13, 2019 in Austin, Texas. Rita was born and grew up in Paterson, New Jersey. She graduated from Pace College in New York City with a Secretarial Science diploma and then worked in the city for seven years. She first worked as a secretary for the Sales and Patent Departments of Texaco, Inc., and then as the secretary to the President of the Texas-U.S. Chemical Company. While working, she met and fell in love with her husband, Nick Vaglica, who was completing a temporary assignment in NYC. A year later, on October 6, 1956 they married and, after their honeymoon in Bermuda, moved to Texas. They were blessed with three children, and they were married for 53 years before he passed away in 2009. While her children were in school, she was a regular and dependable volunteer in the schools. As they grew, she returned to her previous career working as a legal secretary in several law offices. After Nick retired, they moved to Austin so they could be near their three children. Rita’s deep Catholic faith and passion to make a difference in the world was instilled by her parents. Rita was a life-long volunteer working tirelessly for causes she believed in: caring for children and their education, sharing the Catholic faith, and promoting pro-life education and legislation. For most of her adult life, she was active in the Republican Club, Texas Right to Life, Serra Club and Vocations Committee, and Aggie Moms Club while their children attended Texas A&M University. Always an active participant in her church, she taught Religious Education, organized Vacation Bible School, as well as organizing and participating in the RCIA program and Bible studies. In 2007, she was honored by St. Vincent de Paul Parish with the Lumen Gentium Award. Rita’s motto was, “Never give up.”
Rita was predeceased by her parents, Marie (Jasiukiewicz) and Joseph Komor, her sister, Teresa Komor, nephew Richard Komor, and niece Linda (Komor) Schneider. She is survived by: her brother, Joseph (wife Loretta) Komor, of Ramsey, New Jersey and their children Robert, Elaine, Arlene, Barbara, David, and Diane; her sons, John (wife Karen) and Don (wife Claudia) Vaglica and their children Nick and Allison; and daughter, Cathy (husband Tony) Brocato and their son Anthony.
Visitation and Rosary will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 18th at Cook Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home located at 9700 Anderson Mill Road in Austin, Texas. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church located at 9500 Neenah Avenue in Austin, Texas at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 19th. A private interment service will take place at Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery and Prayer Gardens in Georgetown, Texas.
Rita’s family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to St. David’s Rehabilitation Center, Central Texas Rehabilitation Hospital, Brookdale Northwest Hills Senior Living, and Brookdale Hospice for the care and concern they gave Rita for this almost 3-year journey. They are also grateful for the many people who visited and prayed for and with Rita.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Texas Alliance for Life or the American Cancer Society. Visit dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/austin-tx/rita-vaglica-8888112 to leave a tribute or remembrance.
