Rita M. Abraham

Rita Abraham, age 69, passed away on March 11th, 2024. Rita contributed so much generosity, compassion, and love to this world. She dedicated her life to raising and guiding her children and was a fierce ally and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ and Autistic community. She will be remembered for her creative, fun, and adventurous spirit. She is survived by her husband Steve, her five children Sarah, Chris, Anna, Gina and Skylar, her siblings Peter, Janine and Clare, and her grand-dogs Olly, Freddy, and Xylo.

Rita was the daughter of the late Bartholomew and Rita Johnson. She was born and raised in Staten Island in the Grant City neighborhood. She spoke fondly of memories of large family parties, delicious meals cooked by her father, and cheerleading at St. Joseph by the Sea. Rita loved to spend summers at the beach in Long Beach Island, New Jersey, a place where to this day she felt most happy and at peace. She was the youngest of her four siblings and became Aunt Rita at the age of 12. She has nine nieces and nephews, including her late nephew, Jake, who she is now with in heaven.

She graduated from St. Joseph by the Sea High School in 1972 and from St. Leo University in Florida in 1976. She received a Master’s degree in social work from Fordham University. Rita raised her three children Sarah, Chris and Anna in the West Brighton neighborhood of Staten Island. As a mother, she advocated tirelessly for her Autistic daughter Sarah, working with the support of community to create a fulfilling and independent life for Sarah. She leaves a legacy of knowledge and wisdom about supporting autistic individuals.

In 2004, she married her current husband Steve, expanding her family and embracing his two children Gina and Skylar. They built a beautiful home across from Allison’s Pond and created many wonderful memories surrounded by nature. They worked together at Steve’s podiatry office providing patient care to a diverse community in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. They shared a love of biking, playing tennis, and hosting friends and family at their home.

Rita was a talented artist who brought intention and perspective to all her endeavors and projects. She loved to learn and had a passion for beauty and expression. She ventured into many art forms such as painting, crochet, and mosaics, to name a few. For a time, she was a sign artist at Trader Joes. She shared her creativity with all those around her and was known for hosting crafts and activities for her friends and family.

She will be deeply missed by her friends, family, and community. In her memory a service will be held on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 10am at Moravian Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to On Your Mark, an organization that responds to the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in Staten Island and Brooklyn.