Rita passed away on August 9, 2023 at the age of 95. She was sadly pre-deceased by her lovely daughter, Anne Rose, her loving son, Randolph, and her beloved husband, Alexander. She is survived by her granddaughter, Kirsten Anne Dauphinais (David), of Grand Forks ND, her granddaughter, Erika Rose Falle (Zachary), of Glenville NY and son-in-law, M. Dwayne Herron. In addition, she is survived by her great-grandson, Jack Dauphinais, and her great-granddaughter Haven Falle, as well as many dear relatives and friends, all of whom will miss her terribly.
Rita was born in Germany August 19, 1927. She grew up in a thousand-year-old village of 2,000, called Kleinostheim, south of Frankfurt. She received her secondary education in the neighboring city of Aschaffenburg . She and her family survived a bombing raid on February 21, 1945, which devastated the village and killed many of her friends and neighbors.
Rita met her future husband, Alex, at the local May First Dance. It was love at first sight and they married in October, 1948. They were able to spend almost 60 happy years together.
Leaving war-torn Germany, they immigrated to Toronto, Ontario with their then 3- year-old daughter, Anne Rose in 1952. They then moved to Rochester, NY in 1960, with Anne and their infant son, Randy. She continued her education at the University of Rochester in business. Her husband was employed at the Bausch & Lomb Company, where he worked for 23 years, eventually rising to the post of Vice President of Research & Development. Her business education was put to good use, as she worked for Alex when he was a consultant for NASA in retirement. Alex was subsequently inducted into NASA’s Hall of Fame.
Rita volunteered for 35 years at Monroe Community Hospital and served as a board member for 20 years, as well as serving as the president of the auxiliary. She made many longtime friends there. She also helped create and run a boutique that served the patients and staff by generating income to buy major items of need.
There will be no calling hours. A service will be held at the Chapel at White Haven Memorial Park, 210 Marsh Road, Pittsford, NY, on Saturday, September 2, 2023 at 12 p.m., followed by interment next to her husband, Alex. She will be near her daughter, Anne Rose and son, Randolph Alexander.
For any who wish to make a charitable donation in Rita’s name, she was a long-time supporter of UNICEF, American Heart Association, and ASPCA.