Obituary of Rita Palumbo

Rita Patricia Palumbo, 81 a long-time resident of The Villages, in Howell passed away peacefully on Monday, January 28 at the Manor in Freehold Township. Previously, Mrs. Palumbo resided in the Bronx, Palisades Park, and Millstone. She worked for twenty years as a Legal Secretary for Greg Mordas, P.C. in Millstone. Both her Husband Carmine and her son John predeceased Mrs. Palumbo. Her sisters Joanne and Marie and her brothers Ralph and Ritchard also predeceased her. Her Son Stephen and his wife Donna of Phillipsburg, her Son Michael and his wife Eileen of Newton, and Her Daughter Catherine Cutler and her Husband Cary of Millstone survive her. Her four loving grandchildren, John, Joseph, Jessica, and Benjamin also survive Mrs. Palumbo. Her Brother-in-Law David Egli and her Niece Marie Hartlieb also survive Mrs. Palumbo. Rita was an avid reader and enjoyed viewing classic motion pictures. She enjoyed knitting and was known for creating beautiful blankets for newborn babies of relatives and friends alike. Rita always made it a point to keep in touch with her many friends and acquaintances both locally and from across the country. She most enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren and was a loving and nurturing presence to all of them. Mrs. Palumbo was the subject of an award-winning essay authored by her Granddaughter Jessica that was entered into the first New Jersey Hall of Fame under the Middle School category. The essay noted Mrs. Palumbo as being an "everyday hero" for the courage and positive outlook she always demonstrated, despite her having experienced a life filled with much personal loss and tragedy. Rita attended a press conference marking the Hall of Fame event this past October at the Statehouse in Trenton, where she met Governor Corzine and members of the press. A gathering of friends will be held in her honor on Friday, Feb. 1st, from 2-4 & 7-9 PM at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road, Freehold Twp., NJ. Friends and relatives are invited to attend her Memorial Service on Saturday at 10:00 AM at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 91 Stillhouse Road, Millstone Twp., NJ. Interment private. Donations may be made to the Southern New Jersey Shore Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 216 Haddon Avenue (Suite #328) Westmont, New Jersey 08108. For directions, information of condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.