Rita Louise Allen, born in Racine Wisconsin, on January 11th, 1927. Rita was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church there. Rita and her husband were active in the Kiwanis and Ki-wives’ program. They sang duets for numerous fundraisers, their favorite song being “You Are My Sunshine”. She moved with her husband William and their two children, Kathleen Marie and Richard Paul, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in June 1964.

Rita was active in Covenant House there for ten years, providing encouragement and support to homeless youth and unwed mothers. Rita was a Girl Scout leader in Racine as well as in Fort Lauderdale. Rita was a member of church choirs in Racine and Fort Lauderdale. Moving to Mount Laurel, New Jersey in 1994, Rita became a member of the First United Methodist Church in Moorestown, New Jersey, where she was active in the Stephen Ministries program, a not-for-profit Christian educational organization. Rita taught piano to many children while living in New Jersey. Rita moved to Atria Assisted Living in Voorhees, New Jersey, in 2014, where she became an ambassador for new residents.

Rita is preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her son, Paul; her sister, Joan Nelson; and her brother, Frank Mezera. She is survived by her daughter, Kathy; her son-in-law, Jay; her grandson, Jeremiah; her granddaughter-in-law, Jen; her great-granddaughter, Amanda; and many nieces and nephews. Rita supported the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, in honor of a number of family members. Memorial contributions in her name may be made to the fund at www.diabetesresearch.org or to the Covenant House at www.covenanthouse.org.