Rita Mae Filippone

Rita Mae Filippone (nee Dalton), born February 26, 1931, passed away on Friday, July 2, 2021. Aware it was her time, Rita chose to depart peacefully in Hospice Care while her loving granddaughter, Genevieve, was by her side.

Affectionately known as Mom, Ree, Rita Mae, MomMom and Nanny, Rita was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Aida Mae (known publicly as Edith, nee Pastine) and Charles Ray Dalton, who both predeceased her. Rita is the eldest of four children and is survived by her sisters, Charlotte Rae Dalton, and Debra Ann Mulvey (nee Dalton) and her husband, Michael, all in New Jersey. Rita’s brother, Arthur Lee Dalton, nine years younger than Rita and whom she had practically raised, predeceased her by thirty-two years. In 1989, Rita traveled from Florida to New Jersey to spend time with Arthur and become part of his care team toward the end of his life from cancer at age 49; a devastating loss for Rita that affected her greatly.

Rita had been married to Vito John Filippone of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, for 45 years when he passed away in 1995 and together they have two surviving sons, Robert Louis Filippone (ex-wife Cheryl) residing in New Jersey, and Ronald Anthony Filippone (Susan) of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Step-daughter, Dolores Ott (Roy, deceased 2010), has one son, Gregory Reardigan (Lydia), all in Florida. Rita is also survived by Robert and Cheryl’s children, Prema Filippone (Wayne Hodge) and Ryan Filippone, and Ronald and Susan’s children, Genevieve Filippone (Samantha Curtiss), Michael Filippone (Milena Mahi), and John Filippone; she is also survived by her great-grandsons, Andrew and Josef Reardigan, Liam Hodge, great-granddaughters, Kaya Rust and Kalei Mahi, as well as nieces and nephews in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. There is also a tribe of extended family members and friends whom Rita loved, cared for, and considered her own; she loved talking about the people in her life.

Rita met Vito when she worked at a bowling alley in Philadelphia as a teenager. Vito was a widower who had a daughter, Dolores, to whom Rita became step-mother when they married in 1950. Vito soon bestowed upon Rita the nickname, “The Commander”.

Rita became employed at City Hall in Philadelphia as a bookkeeper for many years before moving to Florida upon Vito’s retirement in 1978. In Florida, Rita was employed by United Federal Bank, leaving after several years to take a position with Internal Revenue Service. After retiring from IRS, she worked at Maaco Auto Body shop until shortly after Vito’s passing. She chose to move to Vero Beach in 1997 and worked at Hurricane Rita’s and All Through the House (both shops dedicated to unique decorator home goods). She relocated several times between Fort Lauderdale, Vero Beach, and Boynton Beach, ultimately securing residence in Vero Beach where she retired.

She was a very spiritual woman who loved Jesus and the Catholic Church and recited the rosary every day. Rita often voiced aloud that anyone without religion was a heathen and she never hesitated to state her strong opinion to anyone within earshot. Christmas was her favorite holiday when she baked cookies, pies, and cakes galore, widely decorated her home, and collected lots of decorations over the years and she loved gifting holiday-themed items to others and was, by nature, a very generous lady.

Rita was fond of interior decorating, having wallpapered many homes on her own (hers and others’) with her demure height of 5’2’ and all of 98 pounds! All through her life she would say “I don’t need a man” and would tackle any project on her own and do it well; all before YouTube instructional videos! Because of her talents and skills with tools of many trades, her own father would tell her “You should’ve been born a man!” Nowadays that would be a serious faux pas; clearly Rita was ahead of her time as a DIY-er and she loved the makeover programs on television as well as anything related to and filmed in Alaska.

Rita also had a keen sense for fashion and put together impeccable outfits with jewelry, hats, and accessories that she wore becomingly. She enjoyed cooking and was very good at it, too, instructing others in her “how to’s” for meatballs, gravy (marinara or meat sauce), chicken cutlets, and beans and greens (all of which were her signature favorites). She also loved good Locatelli or hard Parmesan and Provolone cheeses (saying “Don’t be afraid of the cheese” and is probably the only person we’re aware of who had a cheese grinder in the ICU).

She also loved anything lemon or chocolate (except dark, “yuck”) and good crusty bread (especially the “nose”) with lots of butter for dunking into her coffee with cream (not milk, perish the thought!) and a little sugar.

When her grandson, Michael, joined the United States Coast Guard, followed four years later by his brother, John, one might think it became her sole duty to be the “end all, be all” cheerleader and supporter by purchasing anything and everything marked “United States Coast Guard, 1790”. She proudly mounted for display (and flapping in the wind) two flags on the rear windows of her car, a license plate cover, and had floor mats with Coast Guard emblems. She was a parade unto herself when she travelled! She also collected, displayed, and wore other assorted items as well: T-shirts, hoodies, blankets, mugs, pins, bumper stickers, magnets, and a teddy bear. Adoring anything Coastie related and attending both Michael and John’s boot camp graduations in Cape May, New Jersey, were such a thrill for her and made her very proud and happy. Both grandsons are active duty members (Michael stationed in Alaska and John stationed in Guam) and as much as they desire to be here for her memorial, they are unable to attend because of their service duties and the great travel distances. Without a doubt, Rita forgives them (as do we all).

Rita was indeed a force of nature and it has been said that anyone who knew her may have had issues because she had no discerning verbal filter and said whatever came to her mind, whether it be rude or regardless of how shocking, and she was always the first to act when someone was in need; she offered her generous spirit and assistance and what people thought rarely affected her. Rita was not one for hugs and kisses or physical displays of affection but her affections were indeed known by her actions. There was no lukewarm or timidity with Rita as she was always “comin’ in hot”. She was one tough cookie as well as a crackerjack and the way she loved was in her own sure-fire, inimitable way!

Rita was a small, petite woman who indeed carried a big stick and wasn’t afraid to use it; her handshake alone was quite a surprise to all and could take anyone down! She was remarkably attractive and often described as “cute” but she was fierce, feisty, and undeniably independent. We treasure fond memories of her many “Rita-isms”, i.e., “Sit up straight!”, “Get a haircut!” or if someone complained about an ill they were experiencing her response was, “Go to work!” or “Oh, you’ll be alright!” Last but not least, she was very fond of saying, “Love is not what you say, it’s what you DO!” ~ this from a woman who began her long and hard-working career at the tender age of 13 to bring monetary assistance to her family during an economically depressed time.

She is one of many in The Silent Generation.

God bless and rest all their souls and each and every one of us who are truly blessed to have known them and especially our Rita Mae, for the magnificent rainbow of her colorful words and ways, and for the love displayed by her highly energetic actions. Rita never lost her wits, God bless her, and will always be greatly missed and lovingly remembered.

Fair winds and following seas to “The Commander”.

We’ve got the watch now.