Rita Barigelli

Rita M. (Albert) Zak Barigelli, 90, of Vernon, passed away peacefully on April 30, 2018 after a brief illness. She had a long and healthy life and was proud of her diverse accomplishments. Rita was born August 25, 1927 to the late Leonard and Mary Albert. She attended prep school at Brenau Academy in Georgia and has continued her friendship with her classmate Norma Dobrin Chaplain Zane right up until her passing. She then attended UCONN where she met her first husband, Edward Zak. They married in 1950 and settled in South Windsor with their four children. During this time Rita sang in the Hartford Opera Association Chorus and went on to be the opera's make-up artist for years. After Edward's death in 1971, Rita returned to school at St. Francis and earned a LPN degree. She worked for over 30 years at the Institute of Living in Hartford and was able to support her family as a single mother.
Rita married her second husband Harold Barigelli in 1979. Although they only had a short time together before his death the next year, his love and memories gave Rita strength all these years. Rita experienced the death of two of her children; Gregory Zak in 2006 and Marti (Zak) DelGobbo in 2012. She found solace and support from her Catholic faith and 12 step programs. These were painful and difficult life-changing events, but also a time of deep spiritual and emotional growth.
When Rita retired she started pursuing many new activities. She enjoyed being a docent at the Wadsworth Athenaeum in Hartford. She volunteered with the Visiting Nurse Association of CT in their hospice program. She worked with the 1st and 2nd graders as part of the "Vernon Reads" program. All her life Rita enjoyed keeping fit. She played tennis, golf and was an avid ballroom dancer. Later, she regularly joined the senior walkers at Nevers Park in South Windsor. Gardening was another life-long passion and belonged to the garden club "Down to Earth" in South Windsor. Rita will be forever remembered for her love of music and piano playing. She started playing at age 14 and practiced playing every day in her retirement. Even during her las week at Vernon Manor, she entertained family, friends and staff with her big band repertoire. Rita was always seeking out cultural performances, opera concerts, musician's lectures, films and book clubs.
A favorite quote of Rita's by Benjamen Barber was "I divide the world into learners and non-learners. There are people who learn, who are open to what happens around them, who listen, who hear the lessons. When they do something stupid, they don't do it again, and when they do something that works a little bit, they do it even better and harder the next time. The question to ask is not whether you are a success or failure, but whether you are a learner or a non-learner."
Rita is survived by her son, Ed Zak and wife Linda and two grandchildren Aleesha Zak and partner Dylan Lindstrom and Jeff Zak all of Stafford, a daughter Barbara (Zak) Lebrun of Seattle, WA, two step-children Lori Barigelli of Stuart, FL and Michael Barigelli of Maine and a cousin Denise Violette of Bristol.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated for Rita on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at 11 AM at St. Teresa of Calcutta, formerly St. Bridget Church, 80 Main St, Manchester. Private burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, New Britain, CT. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Visiting Nurse and Health Services Inc. (North Central Hospice) 8 Keynote Dr, Vernon, CT 06066. Holmes-Watkins Funeral Home is entrusted with her arrangements. To leave an online message of condolence for her family, please visit www.holmeswatkins.com .

Service DetailsTuesday, May 8th, 2018 11:00am, St. Bridget Church
Interment DetailsSt. Mary's Cemetery