Mrs. Rita Santori Lelii of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, passed away suddenly in her home on July 11, 2018. She was 79 years of age.

Rita emigrated from her hometown of Nereto, Pronvinca Teremo, Italia to Philadelphia in 1960 to begin her life as a wife and later a mother. She was a master seamstress and was very proficient at cooking. She also loved nature and was an avid reader, who taught herself how to read and write in English within a short time of arriving in America. She wrote and read poetry as a child and loved singing. Two of her favorite subjects were history and geography.

She is the devoted mother of Maruice Lelii and his wife Jodi; Lucea and her husband Kevin and Sonia Lelii; loving grandmother of Maurice Jr., Sierra, Dante, Vincent and Gabrielle and great-grandmother of “one on the way.”

She is survived by her children, five grandchildren and her first great-grandson who is expected to be born in Iceland at the end of July. She also is survived by her dear sisters Anna and Dora; brother Peppino, the three surviving siblings of the original ten.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her visitation 9 AM and Funeral Mass 10 AM Friday, July 20, 2018 in The Church of Saint Rita of Cascia, Broad and Federal Streets, Philadelphia, PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association
By clicking here or to the American Heart Association By clicking here