Rita Margaret Hamilton

Rita Margaret Hamilton, age 98, passed peacefully on Saturday, March 2, 2019, at Blue Bell Place.  Rita was born in Newry, Ireland on September 17, 1920, the daughter of the late Mary and Thomas Donnelly.     Her parents, her grandmother, and three of her ten siblings relocated from Ireland, via Ellis Island, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  She married her beloved husband, John Hamilton, in 1945, who passed after 50 years of marriage.  She was devoted to John and cared for him during his failing health in his later years.  Rita and John first lived in Chestnut Hill, then moved to Germantown, and finally to their beloved home in Oreland, Pennsylvania, where Rita remained, living independently for 23 years, until the age of 96.  Rita is survived by her three sons, John Stephen Hamilton, the twins, Richard Allen Hamilton, and Ronald Bruce Hamilton, their wives, Meredith Hamilton, Maria Prats Hamilton, and Lori Adam Hamilton, six grandsons, seven great-grandchildren, and three brothers, Joseph, William and Leonard, and numerous cherished nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her sisters, Theresa, Mae, Betty, Miriam and Irene, and brother, Thomas.     Family and friends were most important to Rita and she took pride in all of their accomplishments.  She loved the sun and the Jersey Shore, and would vacation every summer at Ship Bottom, Long Beach Island, New Jersey.  She also liked to get away from the cold weather in the winter and would frequently visit her two sons who reside in Florida.  Rita had a great sense of humor, she loved to laugh and make others laugh.  Rita also liked to dance and was quite talented at the jitterbug, accompanied by her equally accomplished dancer-husband, John.  She was quick to celebrate and acknowledge all milestones, including births, birthdays, weddings and graduations.  She worked all her life well into her 70s as a waitress at her beloved Williamson’s Restaurant, on City Line Avenue, where the staff was like a second family to Rita.  Rita and John were the consummate good neighbors – always quick to lend a helping hand to family, neighbors and friends.     The funeral service celebrating her life will be held on Thursday, March 7, 2019, at Holy Martyrs Catholic Church in Oreland, Pennsylvania.  The viewing will take place from 9:30 am to 11:00 am, followed by a Mass at 11:00 am, followed by a luncheon in her honor.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org) or to the Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org).