Rita P. Hannan

Rita P. Hannan

Newark--- Rita P. Hannan, 86, died Saturday (February 18, 2012) at the DeMay Living Center, after a long illness.

            Friends may call from 4 - 8 P.M. on Wednesday (February 22^nd) at the Paul L. Murphy & Sons Funeral Home, 127 East Miller Street, Newark.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 A.M. on Thursday (February 23rd) at St. Michael’s Church, South Main Street, Newark with Father Dalimpuo officiating.  Burial will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester.

            Contributions may be made in her memory to Newark-Wayne Community Hospital Foundation, PO Box 571, Newark, NY 14513 or Disabled American Veterans, Department of New York, Powers Chapter (named for the brothers), 162 Atlantic Ave. Lynbrook, N.Y. 11563

          Born in Rochester on September 20, 1925, she was the youngest child of the late William and Mary McGrath Powers.  She was a graduate of Nazareth Academy and received her nurse’s training at St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing.  She lived in Rochester until 1956 when the family moved to Newark, New York, where she has since resided.  Rita was a communicant of St. Michael’s Church and active with St. Michael’s School Mother’s Club.  As a young woman, she was employed by St. Mary’ Hospital and Newark-Wayne Community Hospital, working in the nurseries.

In later years, prior to her retirement, she was an office nurse in her son’s medical practice.  For most of her life, though, Rita was a homemaker-dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend.  In the face of tragedy, triumph, heartache or joy, she served as an anchor of strength, courage and grace for her family.

          Rita is survived by five children, her daughter Eileen Ersteniuk of Macedon, sons Raymond W. (Lois) of Clifton Springs, Dr. David (Pamela) of Pultneyville, Kenneth (Pamela) of Clifton Park and Thomas (Renee) of Minneapolis, MN; seventeen grandchildren; eight great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 52 years, Raymond G.; her two brothers Robert and Leo Powers, who lost their lives in World War II, her sister Blanche Laurent, her first-born child Roberta Lee, who died at one year of age and an infant daughter Mary, who died at birth.  

Remembrances may be made to www.murphyandsonsfuneralhome.com