RITA MARIE ANDREA
Born: September 5th, 1922
Passed in: NORTH SYDNEY, Nova Scotia
Passed on: March 30th, 2017
Rita Marie Andrea, age 94, of Mill Creek, died peacefully at the Northside General Hospital on Thursday, March 30, 2017. Born on September 25, 1922, Rita was the daughter of the late Michael and Jeannette (Gauthier) Andrea. She was a faithful member of St. Joseph Church in Bras d’Or.
After high school, Rita worked for two years at the former Diana Sweets Restaurant in Sydney. She next went to Montreal, Quebec to work at the Canadian Military Armories during the Second World War, residing with the nuns of the Sister of Service Order. On return from Montreal, she lived in Halifax for several years, where she first worked at the J.M. Murphy Factory sewing uniforms for soldiers. She later worked in the kitchen at the Stadacona Naval Base and was the pitcher on the base women’s fastball team. When her mother died in 1953, Rita returned to Mill Creek to take care of her younger brothers and sisters. Her long life was filled with service, acting as nanny or babysitter to many of her nieces and nephews. Until recently, she was a great supporter to parishioners who lost a loved one to death by attending wakes and funerals.
Rita is survived by seven brothers and one sister, Dave (Barb), Elias (Agnes), Francis, Lauretta (Herm) Smith, Bernie, Tony, Father Jake and Eugene (Ann); her sister-in-law, Martina Andrea, her god-daughter, Claire Andrea and many other nephews and nieces. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her siblings Olga, Theresa, Gabe, Len, Joe and John.
The family wishes to sincerely thank Rita’s main care giver, Dr. Doug Kohlsmith, as well as other attending doctors and especially the nurses and staff of the Northside General Hospital and also the Pharmacy at Sexton’s Pharmasave in Sydney Mines. Visitation for Rita will be held from 3-6 p.m. on Sunday, April 2nd in the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant St., North Sydney. The funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 3rd at St. Joseph Church, Bras d’Or with Father Jake Andrea presiding, assisted by the Pastor Fr. Peter McLeod.
Reception and lunch will be hosted by the parish CWL immediately following the funeral mass at the parish hall off Villa Drive, Bras d’Or.
Family flowers only. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
Online condolences may be sent to www.wjdooley.com.
“She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed”
