Rita F. Donnelly

GUILDERLAND – Rita F. Donnelly, 96, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 25, 2013 at Our Lady of Mercy Life Center surrounded by her loving family. Born in Little Falls, NY, she was the daughter of the late John and Mary (Banks) Reardon.

Rita worked and retired from the New York State Department of Education. She was a parishioner of Christ the King Church in Guilderland. Rita's greatest devotion was to her family.

Along with her parents, Rita was predeceased by her loving husband of 56 years, Miles Donnelly, and sister Elizabeth Reardon.

She will be missed by her daughters (Mary) Susan (the late Royal "Ike") Whalen of West Sand Lake and Kathleen (Joseph) Giso of Guilderland; sister Anne Aube of Loudonville; grandchildren Kimberly Whalen, Christopher Whalen, Melissa Glasser, Mary Abbruzzese and Gregory Giso; great-grandchildren Kayla, Elise and Meghan Patanian; Chelsea and Cassidhe Whalen; Keith and Rachel Glasser; Keri, Jillian and Danielle Abbruzzese, and Maggie and Miles Giso, as well as several nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Our Lady of Mercy Life Center, especially nurses Kathy and Millie, and aides Evangeline "Anastasia", Rich, Jay, Caitlyn, Irene and Jennifer.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 10:00 am at Christ the King Church, 20 Sumter Avenue, Guilderland. A calling hour with precede the Mass from 8:30 to 9:30 am at New Comer Cannon Funeral Home, 343 New Karner Road, Colonie. Interment will be in St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Northeastern NY Chapter, 950 New Loudon Road, Suite 330, Latham, NY 12110 in Rita's name.