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Rita Franceschelli Marinelli, 89, of North Haven peacefully entered into rest surrounded by her family on January 5. She was the beloved wife of the late Joseph W. Marinelli, Jr., and devoted mother of Beth (David) Spose and Joseph (Wendy) Marinelli III. She leaves behind her grandchildren Lindsay (Luke) Marlow, Michael Spose, Santina and Olivia Marinelli, and a great grandson, Henry Marlow, who will cherish memories of their loving grandmother and great-grandmother.

Rita was born in New Britain on Oct. 15, 1929, to the late Marino and Irma Conti Franceschelli. She worked as a secretary for the North Haven Board of Education for 32 years until her retirement. Rita enjoyed cooking and baking, but her greatest enjoyment, however, was spending time with her family, taking pleasure in the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren, whom she loved unconditionally. Rita is survived by sisters Mary Serravalle and Ernestine Colosimo as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by sisters Helen Mastrianni, Emily Cianci, Eleanor Marcello, and Olga Marinelli.

Friends and family called at the North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Ave. Jan. 10. Her funeral procession left the funeral home Jan. 11. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 2819 Whitney Ave., Hamden. Interment followed in All Saints Cemetery. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to St. Lucian’s Residence, 532 Burritt St., New Britain, CT 06053, or Monsignor Bojnowski Manor, 50 Pulaski St., New Britain, CT 06053. For an online obituary, visit www.northhavenfuneral.com.