Mrs. Rita Cooley

Mrs. Rita Cooley, 90, of Dalton, MA and formerly of The Woodlands, TX , passed away peacefully on May 10th 2014. She was born in New York on December 29, 1923 and grew up in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.. Rita was a buyer at the Brooklyn Army base when she met her husband Claiborn Cooley from Longville, LA, who was on his 2nd tour of duty at the end of WWII. The two found a lasting connection in a marriage that spanned over 65 years. They enjoyed traveling to Europe, Hawaii, Alaska and Australia. Rita also traveled solo to Israel and Egypt. Rita took pride in cooking meals for her family and, in the Italian tradition, Rita loved to see everyone around the dining room table eating and laughing. This was her ministry. Outside of her family, which was Rita’s foremost passion, she enjoyed reading, listening to Frank Sinatra, and playing bridge with her bridge club. Ever poised, Rita also had a free-spirited side, even in the later years of her life. She surprised her grandson by making an attempt to play his rock-and-roll drum set, and on another occasion she dove into a frigid lake in Downeast Maine to swim with her grandchildren. A doting mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Rita also extended her love and deepest friendship to her brothers and sister, and their families. She will be greatly missed. Rita is survived by her husband Clay of Dalton, MA, a son George Cooley (Donna) of Chappell Hill, TX and a daughter Barbara Cooley (Carlisle) of Pittsfield, MA; grandchildren David Cooley, Laura Gray; Kristin Carlisle, Kate Carlisle and Caroline Carlisle; three great-grandchildren; two loving brothers Alexander Cioffi (Eileen), Victor Cioffi (Marie), and many loving extended family. She is predeceased by her dear brother and sister, Lawrence Cioffi and Lucie Voso.. Funeral Notice: A Liturgy of Christian Burial for Rita C. Cooley will be Saturday, June 7, 2014 at 11am celebrated by Rev. James K. Joyce, pastor. Burial will be at a later date. The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service from 10:30 to 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, care of the Dwyer Funeral Home, 776 North St., Pittsfield MA 01201, in her memory. DONATIONS CANNOT BE MADE ONLINE, but may be made through the Dwyer Funeral Home.

Mrs. Rita Cooley

December 29, 1923 - May 10, 2014