Rita Reca - Bullitis

Rita Reca-Bullitis passed peacefully on October 26, 2020 at Coffman Nursing Home in Hagerstown, MD after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s.  Born in Bristol, PA she was a lifelong Bucks County resident until moving to Chambersburg and Hagerstown area in 2015.   She attended St Ann Catholic school in Bristol and graduated from St Hubert’s Catholic High school for Girls in Philadelphia in 1954. For many years Rita was a stay at home mother and later worked for Augusta Aviation, Inc. retiring in the late 1980’s.  Rita loved the holidays, especially Christmas, she enjoyed decorating her home, typically hers was one of the first Christmas cards you would receive, decorated in stickers and her meticulous handwriting, her beautifully wrapped gifts regardless how small were always adorned with ribbons and bows and will never be forgotten.  Rita enjoyed many interests from her cooking and baking to hosting holiday get-togethers and cookouts, shopping and casino trips with the girls, reading, flower gardening; her green thumb was evident, music, especially her piano keyboard, a fan of her beloved André Rieu and enjoyed attending his concerts, Rita enjoyed writing poetry and small compositions, as well as volunteering at A Women’s Place Bucks County.

Rita will be remembered for her quick wit, sharp memory and her sense of humor, her zest for life and her big heart.   Rita loved quotes and sayings and always had one to offer in most instances, but mostly despite her brave long battle with Alzheimer’s which took much from her and us all we will remember her beautiful smile, and her ability to still show and receive love until the end for that we are grateful.  Her kind hearted nature and her young at heart disposition maintained throughout her life.  

Rita is preceded in death by her parents Elizabeth Guarnieri (nee: Vergantino Rago) and James Rago, first husband Emil Minnichbach and father to their three children and her beloved brother Michael Reca. She is survived her children Debbie Cantwell (Charles) of Deltona, FL, James Minnichbach (Cindi) of Hagerstown, MD, Lisa Killmer (Robert) of Hagerstown, MD, grandchildren Brian Cantwell and Stacy Cantwell both of Florida, Jeffrey Minnichbach (Natalie) of Maryland and Michael Minnichbach of Maryland, James Killmer of Bristol, PA, great grandchildren Emma, Dylan, Sophia, Parker, Julian, Isabella, siblings Josephine Hall, Vincent Reca, Raymond Reca and Rose Hibbs.  Rita will be remembered fondly as well by lifelong friends and extended family.  Rita’s greatest joys were being a mother to her three children and her family.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made in her memory to any of these charities, Coffman Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 1304 Pennsylvania Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21742, Alzheimers Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601, A Woman’s Place, 1281 Almshouse Road, Doylestown, PA 18901.

Family and friends are invited to Rita's graveside service 10:30 am Tuesday, August 3, 2021 at Bristol Cemetery, Route 13, Croydon, PA 19021.