Rita Mary Giovannini (nee Fitzpatrick), 91, passed peacefully away on March 3, 2016 surrounded by her large and devoted family and blessed by her many friends and caregivers at St. Patrick's Mercy Home. Rita was predeceased by her parents, Susan and James Fitzpatrick of Lord's Cove, her sisters Elizabeth, Josephine, Viola and Sarah and her brothers Joseph and Adolph. Left to celebrate her life are husband Leo (Bud) and their 10 children: Dolores Kean (Baxter); Jim (Turid); Sue; Bob (Alana); Brian; Patti (Michael Holmes); Joy Piepjohn (Manfred); Paula (Andy Newman); Karen and Kathy. Rita leaves 22 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren - who brought great joy to her later years. She also leaves a large extended family - the Isaacs and Fitzpatricks of Lord's Cove, and the Giovannini family. Rita was especially close with her nephew John Isaacs and her in-laws Mary Jackman, Margaret and Vincent McDonald, Theresa Giovannini and Edward Kold. And to the end she enjoyed regular visits from her many nieces and nephews. Rita was born in Lord's Cove, lived most of her life in St. Lawrence and spent her later years in St. John's. She will be remembered for her remarkable wit, her humorous stories, and her integrity as a person. She spoke the truth and she faced life head on, always with a sense of humour. She was a tireless worker and a highly competent manager - of her local parish in her early days as the priest's assistant, of her family of 10, and the hotel and bar business she built with her husband Bud. All the while she served leadership roles in the local church and hospital auxiliary and the provincial lounge and tourism associations. Rita was well respected by all who knew her - family, friends, employees, business associates and community members. Rita was also an excellent cook who fed thousands of visitors to St. Lawrence and catered hundreds of weddings and banquets. Like most women of her generation, she was a caregiver who lived to serve others. She will be sadly missed. Visitation at Caul's Funeral Home, St. John's on Friday, March 4 from 2-5 and 7-9 pm. Visitation will resume on Sunday, March 6 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in St. Lawrence from 12-4 and 7-9 pm. Funeral on Monday from St. Thomas Aquinas Church in St. Lawrence at 11 am. Flowers gratefully received, or a donation in Rita's memory to St. Patrick's Mercy Home Foundation, St. John's, or St. Thomas Aquinas Church, St. Lawrence.