Obituary of Rita Cafarelli

NEW MEXICO – Mrs. Rita D. Cafarelli, age 95, currently of Rio Rancho, New Mexico and formerly a longtime resident of Ilion, New York, passed away peacefully on Tuesday morning, November 2, 2021. Her passing occurred at the Rio Rancho Center where she will be missed by staff and other residents. Born on February 24, 1926, Rita was the daughter of the late Rudolph Pain and Dora Breault. Her early childhood years were spent in New York City before relocating to Massachusetts where she continued her education and eventually graduated from New Bedford High School. Rita was blessed to share in a marriage with the late Anthony D. Cafarelli, a loving and devoted union until Anthony’s passing on January 15, 1996. A beautician by trade, Rita graduated from Utica School of Beauty. She was well-known in the Ilion community as a skilled cosmetologist who practiced out of her own home for over forty years. She was not only hardworking but dedicated to the well-being of her beloved family. In her spare time, Rita enjoyed the peaceful wonders of the ocean and visited every chance that she had. She was also extremely devout to her Roman Catholic faith, attending mass almost every day, until her health no longer allowed her to do so. Rita is survived by her daughter, Carin Lamberson; her great-granddaughter, Mandy Perez; and her two great-great-granddaughters, Leah and Allie, all of Rio Rancho, New Mexico. She was predeceased by her husband and by her beloved grandson, Todd Lamberson, on April 22, 2014. Rita’s earthly remains will be returned home to Ilion and a graveside service commemorating her life will take place in the Spring of 2022 at a date and time to be announced. Rita’s final wishes were pre-arranged and entrusted to the Enea & Ciaccia Family Funeral Home, 4309 Acme Road, Town of Frankfort, Ilion, NY (315) 894-8000, Harry and Kevin Enea and Martin L. Ciaccia, Funeral Directors. Online notes of sympathy may be left at www.eneafamily.com.