Rita F. Carey

Rita F. Carey, age 72, of Fallston, Maryland and a former longtime resident of Lions Head Lake in Wayne, NJ, passed away on Thursday, September 7, 2023.

Rita was born in New York City, the daughter of Anthony and Bessie (Salemi) Chianese. When she was just three years old, she moved west, across the Hudson River, to Oakland New Jersey, and later to Pompton Lakes before settling in Wayne, NJ at 39 Grantwood Road. 

Rita was a graduate of Wayne Hills High School’s Class of 1969. Her graduating class held the distinction of being the first class to go through all four years in the newly constructed high school building. After graduating, Rita launched full time into a career as a bodily injury claims representative for State Farm Insurance Company. She began work there when she was still in high school and by the time she retired in 2013, Rita clocked in 45 years. With her hard work ethic and empathetic and encouraging disposition, Rita was able to effectively help her clients through very challenging situations.  

Rita met her husband-to-be, William Carey on a blind date. Bill suggested that they go bowling. Bill didn’t know that Rita was an accomplished bowler and, not wanting to embarrass him, Rita kept it a secret by letting Bill defeat her. After bowling, Rita and Bill went back to her house where Bill got to meet Rita’s parents. When her dad asked them where they’d been, Bill explained that they had gone bowling. He respectfully added a comment about defeating Rita and something to the effect of her not being a good bowler. A little surprised at first, Rita’s father quickly realized that his daughter threw the game and he proceeded to break the bad news to Bill that he had been played. Bill never did bowl with Rita again but he did eventually ask her to marry him. They exchanged wedding vows on April 9, 1972 at Our Lady of Consolation Church in Wayne. They purchased their home at 29 Brookdale Road in the Lions Head Lake section of Wayne and Rita remained there for 49 years until moving to Fallston, Maryland to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. Sadly, Bill passed away unexpectedly on January 31, 1995.

Rita loved competing in sports, especially softball and bowling. She played softball in town recreation leagues and for many years for State Farm Insurance’s team. She primarily played third base and pitched and, during softball season, it wasn’t unusual for her to have games at least three nights a week. When she wasn’t playing softball, Rita was bowling. She was a regular at T-Bowl in Wayne, Butler Bowl, and Astro Bowl in Clifton. Her 190 average earned Rita the right to compete in the tri-state Women’s All-Star Association (WASA) League and the Garden State Games.

Above all else, nothing was as important to Rita as her family. During her formative years and to the present, she lived for her daughter Robyn by pouring herself into raising, loving, and nurturing her as her mother and as a single mom from when Robyn was just thirteen years old. Rita was her greatest cheerleader at all of Robyn’s bowling, softball, and field hockey competitions. When life necessitated a move to Maryland for Robyn and her family, Rita moved also so that she could be near Robyn, husband Adam, and her two grandsons, Munson and Mason. This past December, Robyn and Adam welcome sweet Savannah to their family. Rita referred to Savannah as her little sunshine.. 

Rita simply loved people. She was a tremendously kind, gentle, empathetic, positive  and resilient person who always had a kind word for anyone she encountered. She would give you the shirt off of her back or give you whatever you stood in need of. These qualities helped her to be a loving wife, mother, grandmother, friend, employee and coworker. She affected peoples lives in ways that her family never realized.   

Rita was the beloved wife of William Carey, blessed in marriage for 23 years until his sudden passing in 1995. She was the very loving mother of Robyn Westover and husband Adam of Fallston, Maryland, and adored grandmother of Munson, Mason, and Savannah. 

In lieu of flowers, because Rita adored her grandchildren and loved to watch Munson and Mason compete in their local sports programs, those wishing to give a memorial contribution are asked to consider:

Fallston Recreation Council, Inc.

1707 Fallston Road

Fallston, MD  21047-1410