Rita A Hermanns

Our mother Rita Hermanns (Rita Anne Connors), passed away on May 29, 2024 after a long battle with heart and lung disease, she 86 years old. Born to Thomas and Delia Connors, Irish immigrants, she was raised in Jersey City, NJ. After attending St. Dominics Academy High School she met and married our father, Vincent (Vinny,) and moved to Lake Hopatcong, NJ after starting their family. She is survived by us, her devoted family: Kristine Guarinello, Tricia Edwards (daughters), son in law Brian Edwards, and her three grandchildren: Olivia Guarinello, Kayla & Cameron Edwards. 

Rita was spirited, strong and feisty; 100% Jersey through and through. She had many friends and acquaintances and when you met her, whether it was in passing or a long standing connection, you certainly wouldn’t forget her! 

She loved the holidays especially Halloween and was always dressed up in something memorable. Rita had many friends and acquaintances. She worked for the NJ Division of Motor Vehicles in Morris County NJ and knew everyone. She was known as the DMV lady and would often be stopped whenever we were out and they would ask how they knew her, her response was always: did we meet in prison? no joke that was her comical response. She loved to laugh and sharing riddles. She kept a book of jokes and riddles to share with us, her friends and her doctors. She enjoyed playing board and card games with her friends but more importantly with her grandchildren. 

Food, oh lord she was a picky eater. No spices or seasoning or feel her wrath! She loved spaghetti and meatballs, it had to be thin spaghetti and little sauce. Cheeseburgers were a favorite but don’t overcook it like a hockey puck. Her signature drink was Rye with club soda “light on the ice!”; she insisted on two ice cubes, not one cube more or less. Rita loved going out to eat – Outback Steakhouse and Mama Caterinas just to name a few. After moving to NC in 2021, we found new places to love including Monsoon for Asian (which she always called Moon son) but we can’t forget OMG donuts in Concord – she went crazy for their apple fritters! Basically it didn’t matter where she went as long as it was out. While she was not one who loved to cook she did make a mean cole slaw, potato salad and prided herself on her her chicken marsala and apple pie pizza. She was able to travel over the years and did make it to Alaska and Ireland – two places on her bucket list along with Hawaii – she was there twice and always wanted to go back; she was obsessed with pineapples!

There are so many memories about our mother Rita, some funny but always unforgettable. One of them that stands out was on a flight to Denver, CO where she locked herself in the bathroom on takeoff – they pulled the plane off the runway after she told the flight attendant that it was a “medical emergency” – no it wasn’t, she just had to “tend to her needs” badly! Well she was greeted by security when we landed – we think she was temporarily placed on the United Airlines no fly list but can’t confirm for sure. The list goes on an on – things that either she did or said to make you laugh, or even pause and wonder why. She loved her family, her friends and hosting parties, she wanted to be the center of attention and she was. Rita led her life out loud and we will never forget her spirit. 

She made many life long friends – most (but not all) from NJ in Lake Forest, Lake Hopatcong (her birthday group pals) but also while she was living at India Brook Village senior apartments in Randolph and later in Charlotte NC while living at Shad’s Landing Independent Living where she met some good friends including her best friend who loved her dearly and was a lifeline to her during her last few years with us. 

Our mother Rita did not want a formal service – she asked that we take her remains and as a family travel to Hawaii to memorialize her there. We have so many people to thank for being there for her over the years, too many names to share. We would however like to thank the Atrium Health Hospice House in Kannapolis -Tucker House, for the care they provided to her during her final days.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers consider making a donation to Tunnel to Towers Foundation:

 https://t2t.org/donate/?msclkid=2bdfb71059cf10489d77d1946d4c648c