Obituary for Rita Marie DiClemente (Siciliano)
Rita Marie (Siciliano) DiClemente, a US Air Force Veteran of the Korean War, formerly of Hollis, Hudson and Goffstown, N.H. passed away on her 87th birthday, May 25, 2023, at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, Mass. following a brief illness. Until her death, she was a resident of Bedford, Mass.
Rita was the widow of John J. DiClemente with whom she shared 60 years of marriage prior to his passing on July 5, 2021.
She was born in Albany, N.Y. on May 25, 1936, daughter of the late Michael Siciliano and Florence (Bush) Conrad and stepdaughter of the late Joseph F. Conrad. Rita was a graduate of Woburn High School in Massachusetts and served in the US Air Force during the Korean Conflict as an Airman, 2nd Class. Prior to her retirement in 1986, she worked for many years at Poliquin Insurance Agency in Nashua.
Rita was passionate about cross-stitching, and her completed pieces were enjoyed by many admirers. She also loved to cook for her family—her lasagna was legendary—and during baseball and football seasons, she could be heard cheering on the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots. She was also active with the Hollis N.H. Seniors Organization.
Rita courageously coped with a neurological condition that confined her to a wheel chair. In spite of her health challenge, she never let her illness prevent her from maintaining a positive attitude or caring about others. She relied on her deep faith in God to see her through each day and was fond of saying, "Every day may not be a good day, but there's some good in every day."
She is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law John “Jack” and Linda DiClemente of Abington, Mass.; Keith and Heidi DiClemente of Derry and Michael and Melissa DiClemente of Scarborough, Maine. Also, a daughter and son-in-law Andrea and Richard Dellarciprete, of Billerica, Mass. Rita was grandmother to 12 grandchildren: John, Allison, Matthew, Holly, Stephen, Michael Anthony, Alexis, Nicholas, Michael Jr., Colin, Dalana and Michael James. Also nine great-grandchildren with a new great-granddaughter due in July; brother Joseph Conrad of Ormond Beach, Fla.; sister Cynthia Keyes and her husband Richard, of Wilton, N.H.; sister-in-law Sara Siciliano of Nashua and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her late best friend Jean Jackson and granddaughter Marissa DiClemente. Rita was sister of the late Michael Siciliano and Betty Jo (Conrad) Strange.
The family would like to acknowledge the care and compassion Rita received from the staff at EN Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford, Mass. and Billerica Crossings where she resided for several years.
SERVICES: Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to her visitation from 5:00 - 7:00 PM on Tuesday May 30, 2023 at The Davis Funeral Home, 1 Lock St., Nashua, NH 03064. Funeral Wednesday morning with a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 11:00 AM at the Parish of the Resurrection, 449 Broad St., Nashua, NH 03063. Interment with Military Honors to follow at East Cemetery, 24 Wheeler Rd., Hollis, NH. Flowers or a contribution to a charity of one's choice will be greatly appreciated. An online guestbook can be found at www.DavisFuneralHomeNH.com (603)883-3401 “ONE MEMORY LIGHTS ANOTHER.”
Rita was the widow of John J. DiClemente with whom she shared 60 years of marriage prior to his passing on July 5, 2021.
She was born in Albany, N.Y. on May 25, 1936, daughter of the late Michael Siciliano and Florence (Bush) Conrad and stepdaughter of the late Joseph F. Conrad. Rita was a graduate of Woburn High School in Massachusetts and served in the US Air Force during the Korean Conflict as an Airman, 2nd Class. Prior to her retirement in 1986, she worked for many years at Poliquin Insurance Agency in Nashua.
Rita was passionate about cross-stitching, and her completed pieces were enjoyed by many admirers. She also loved to cook for her family—her lasagna was legendary—and during baseball and football seasons, she could be heard cheering on the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots. She was also active with the Hollis N.H. Seniors Organization.
Rita courageously coped with a neurological condition that confined her to a wheel chair. In spite of her health challenge, she never let her illness prevent her from maintaining a positive attitude or caring about others. She relied on her deep faith in God to see her through each day and was fond of saying, "Every day may not be a good day, but there's some good in every day."
She is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law John “Jack” and Linda DiClemente of Abington, Mass.; Keith and Heidi DiClemente of Derry and Michael and Melissa DiClemente of Scarborough, Maine. Also, a daughter and son-in-law Andrea and Richard Dellarciprete, of Billerica, Mass. Rita was grandmother to 12 grandchildren: John, Allison, Matthew, Holly, Stephen, Michael Anthony, Alexis, Nicholas, Michael Jr., Colin, Dalana and Michael James. Also nine great-grandchildren with a new great-granddaughter due in July; brother Joseph Conrad of Ormond Beach, Fla.; sister Cynthia Keyes and her husband Richard, of Wilton, N.H.; sister-in-law Sara Siciliano of Nashua and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her late best friend Jean Jackson and granddaughter Marissa DiClemente. Rita was sister of the late Michael Siciliano and Betty Jo (Conrad) Strange.
The family would like to acknowledge the care and compassion Rita received from the staff at EN Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford, Mass. and Billerica Crossings where she resided for several years.
SERVICES: Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to her visitation from 5:00 - 7:00 PM on Tuesday May 30, 2023 at The Davis Funeral Home, 1 Lock St., Nashua, NH 03064. Funeral Wednesday morning with a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 11:00 AM at the Parish of the Resurrection, 449 Broad St., Nashua, NH 03063. Interment with Military Honors to follow at East Cemetery, 24 Wheeler Rd., Hollis, NH. Flowers or a contribution to a charity of one's choice will be greatly appreciated. An online guestbook can be found at www.DavisFuneralHomeNH.com (603)883-3401 “ONE MEMORY LIGHTS ANOTHER.”