Rita Walker Curran, age 96 years, of Pennington, NJ, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, surrounded by her adored family.

Rita was born on August 17, 1927, in Philadelphia, PA, to Nellie and Joseph A. Walker, Sr., where she resided until moving to Drexel Hill, PA. Rita was a graduate of Notre Dame High School in Drexel Hill, PA, studied business at the Somerset County Technical Institute, and took courses for Environmental Commissioners at the Cook College of Environmental Science.

Rita met the love of her life, Edwin H. Curran Sr., when they were just 14 years old and he was the usher at the Yeadon Movie Theatre. Asking her to dance in the back of the theatre during the movie, it was love at first sight. They were married on November 25, 1950, not letting the Great Appalachian Storm stop them! The rest was 47 years of a beautiful loving life, lived together, full of dancing and fun until his death in 1998.

Rita and Ed lived in Philadelphia and Broomall, PA, Bridgewater Township and Egg Harbor Township, NJ. As a couple, they were forever socializing, supporting, and laughing with their wide circle of lifelong friends. After his passing, Rita moved to the Flemington Fields Development in Raritan Township, NJ, before transitioning to The Brandywine at Pennington Assisted Living in 2021. While finding the time was difficult with 4 children, Rita and Ed were able to take a number of memorable trips to Spain in 1974, Venezuela in 1988, and 1990, London in 1990, Paris in 1993, and Mexico City in 1996, where many happy memories were made.

Rita was very active in her lifetime. In high school, Rita was the “May Queen”, and a cheerleader and performer in theatrical productions. She was also a tap dancer with her best friend and sister, the late Emilie Marzullo, and along with their dad, would do charity and event shows. She never missed a social dance – with or without a date – and loved collaborating in committee work.

A very generous soul being the first to offer a “come over for coffee and cake”, or “dinner invite to friends”, she was also known to make a phenomenal casserole for new neighbors or anyone in need of some TLC. She insisted on always writing a “Thank You” note, a “Get Well Card”, a “Mass Card” or anything to show people they were being thought of, with love.

Always doing volunteer work, Rita was a member of the Bridgewater Board of Health Advisory Board, the Bridgwater Health Appeals Board, a former Chairperson of the Air Pollution Committee, member of the Bridgewater Environmental Committee, served as a Somerset County Committee Person, was part of the Social Services Department of Somerset Medical Center, served on both the Atlantic Regional Medical Center Auxiliary (Atlantic County) and Hunterdon Medical Center Auxiliary, and loved her work with the Home Bound Program of St. Magdalen de Pazzi Roman Catholic Church in Flemington. Rita eventually became a recipient of this program, and was very grateful for their kindness.

Rita was very concerned about environmental health. While in Bridgewater, she fought for legislation to improve air quality – especially from toxic fumes from an industrial plant located in the township. If Rita was not happy with what was happening in government, she spoke out, wrote letters and made phone calls – often directly to the elected officials, with a few letters sent to the President of the United States!

Professionally, Rita held the positions of Secretary, Administrative Assistant and Office Manager for Beard & Craft and later, Donahue Brothers Insurance, as well as her husband, Ed and his partners start up company, Emerald Manufacturing Company (Stick-Em Up). She also worked for Kelly Services at corporations like AT&T, Longlines, Johnson & Johnson, Devro, Gulf Western, and Research Cottrell, Inc., before being hired full time by Research Cottrell in North Branch NJ.

Rita’s heart was always full of fun! A member of the Flemington Fields and various other Social Committees, she was where the party was, or on the committee helping to plan one. She loved her neighbors and how they all looked out for each other. She was a lifelong chocolate lover – especially her ice cream! While in Egg Harbor Township, Rita reconnected with the “Notre Dame Girls” from high school – and they would meet for lunch throughout the years, 15-20 of them consistently rekindling old memories and making new ones. When back in Flemington, Rita reconnected with the “English Court” gang from Bridgewater – introducing them to her favorite restaurant, Alfresco’s, to reminisce and catch up on a regular basis.

Rita raised her 4 children in Broomall, PA, and Bridgewater, NJ. She was active in the PTA, ran everyone around to their activities, spent summers at the Lawrence Park Swim Club, cherished vacations at the Walker family beach house in Brigantine, NJ, made trips to Ocean City and its boardwalk, created many Easter Egg Hunts and charity game fairs in her back yard, baked endless cupcakes, and threw epic birthday parties. Rita always looked forward to Halloween – making her own children’s costumes and anticipating all the little faces that would visit her front door. She was always ready with something special and made sure she had her costume on. Decorations for holidays were always up very early, and came down late. The dining table always on point as Rita was apt to remind people that it was all about the presentation. She always wanted to look her best, so was never out the door without that last check on her hair, make up and especially the lipstick and earrings!

No one can forget Rita’s alter ego as a bargain hunter; the car would stop short for garage and rummage sales, so everyone always stayed buckled up. One day, she found a WWII remnant bomb that she thought would be good for show and tell at her son, Ed’s elementary school. So, he took it to school and before you know it, she gets a call from the principal saying the Army Bomb diffusers are coming and the school is being evacuated! Whoops… (no one injured in this event and it made for a great story at family get-togethers).

While in Egg Harbor Township, she and her sister got together frequently with their brother, Joe and his wife, Melva for cockers (cocktails) and chewies (appetizers) and on Joe’s boat and dock at the Farley State Marina. They took advantage of all the buffets, and shows, and walked on the “boards” of Atlantic City. She loved being able to see family, often. She loved seeing all her nieces and nephews and their families, any chance she could.

Throughout her 96 amazing years, Rita taught everyone she met, through her own example of living, what it means to live a life of passion and compassion, grounded in love. Her legacy of trying to make the world a better place will surely live on through the hearts of all who were touched by her loving heart.

In addition to her parents and husband, Rita was preceded in death by her sister, Emilie W. Marzullo; and a niece, Mary Lou (Walker) Senkarik.

Surviving are her four children, Patricia M. Curran, Edwin H. Curran Jr. (Lili Huang), Elizabeth E. Milcarek (Chip), and Robert W. Curran (Leslie); her former daughter-in-law, Tina Curran;  her seven grandchildren, Heather Milcarek, Emilie Conway (Dan), Autumn Curran, Brianna Curran-Wittak (Jake), Christine Curran, Claudia Curran, and Chelsea Curran; her great granddaughter, June Aurora Wittak; many nieces, nephews, and extended family; and many dear friends.

Rita will lie in repose on Thursday, December 14, 2023, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ. A vigil service followed by reflections from family and friends will take place at 6:30 p.m. and to which all are welcome.

An additional period of gathering will take place on Friday, December 15, 2023, from 8:45-9:15 a.m. at the funeral home.

A Mass of Christian Burial officiated by Rev. Matthew Marinelli will take place on Friday, December 15, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Magdalen Church, 105 Mine Street, Flemington, NJ.

Burial in the family plot will take place on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Saints Peter & Paul Cemetery, 1600 S. Sproul Road, Springfield, PA, 19064, 484-200-8321. Everyone is invited to meet directly at the cemetery on Saturday morning at the office at 10:45 a.m.

You are encouraged to visit Rita’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.

Memorial contributions in her name may be made to the Hunterdon Healthcare Foundation, 9100 Wescott Drive, Flemington, NJ  08822, or online by clicking HERE, or to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation, P.O. Box 781352, Philadelphia, PA, 10178-1352, or online by clicking HERE.

____________________________