Rita F. Szczepanowski

Rita F. Szczepanowski of Newark, DE, formerly of Claymont, DE passed away August 14, 2017 in Lancaster, PA, after a long illness. She was 81 years old.

Rita was born April 2, 1936 to the late Joseph and Theresa (Barbone) Rapposelli.  She was a 1954 graduate of Claymont High School.  Rita was employed as a telephone operator when she married Richard Szczepanowski on January 8, 1955.  The couple lived in Claymont until moving to Newark in 1989.  After 44 years of marriage, Richard passed away in 1999.  They were members of Holy Rosary Parish in Claymont and later, St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Newark.  Rita was a homemaker and when her children were older, she worked for a time at Mount Pleasant High School, Immaculate Heart of Mary School and later, the Little Sisters of the Poor.

In addition to her husband, Rita was predeceased by her brothers, Archie (Lil) Rapposelli and Dominic Rapposelli; her sisters, Angelina (George) Walser, Lucy (Louis) Palandrani, Linda Netta; and her sister-in-law, Christine (Frank) Oleksy.

Rita is survived by two sons, John (Viola) Szczepanowski of Claymont, DE, Richard Szczepanowski of Greenbelt, MD; two daughters, Christina Kapusta of Jacksonville, FL, Diana (Matthew) Anater of Lancaster, PA; sixteen grandchildren, Theresa Szczepanowski, John Szczepanowski, Joseph Kapusta, Maria Kapusta, Daniel Kapusta, Alicia (Clayton) Revels, Nicholas Kapusta, Matthew Anater, David Anater, Anthony Anater, Nina Anater, Maggie Anater, Mia Anater, Aaron Anater, Anne-Marie Anater, Robert Anater; one brother, Felix Rapposelli; numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at 11am at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 3200 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, DE 19703, where a viewing will be held in the church from 10am to 11am.  Burial will be in Cathedral Cemetery, Wilmington, DE. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Holy Rosary Church.

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