Obituary of Rita Mary Welsh

Rita M. Welsh of Maris Grove retirement community, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on May 4, 2021 at Maris Grove at the age of 93 after a brief illness. She was adored by her husband of 70 years Robert E. ("Bob") Welsh and her large and loving family who were with her throughout her illness in person and spirit.

Born Rita M. McGrath to Joseph and Rita McGrath in Philadelphia, she was raised in West Philadelphia and attended West Philadelphia High School, graduating in 1946. She met her husband Bob in 1949 when they ran into each other outside of a dance at the Saint Francis De Sales Church in West Philadelphia. They married at the same church in December 1951 while Bob was in pilot training in the United States Navy. They were inseparable until her death. They lived in Claymont, Delaware for 20 years, and Wallingford, PA for 20 years. For the past 10 years, Rita and Bob resided at Maris Grove in Glen Mills, PA.

They raised four children together and travelled the world. She swelled with pride for her large, loud, dynamic family. She was a gifted gardener who had an almost magical ability to make plants thrive, or so her family said. She loved to entertain and to talk about history and politics. She was witty, perceptive and insightful and was deeply proud of her Irish heritage. Her world view was generous, progressive and inclusive.

Rita and Bob suffered the loss of their youngest child Janet to cancer at the age of eighteen in 1978. Rita later worked as a volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia which provided temporary housing for families of children receiving treatment at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The family likes to picture Rita joining Janet somewhere, perhaps among the stars.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children Robert E. Welsh, Jr. (Suzanne) of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; David J. Welsh (Patricia) of Rose Valley Pennsylvania; and Joanne Welsh Fitzgerald (Robert) of Clifton Park, New York.

She is also survived by ten grandchildren: Emily Gottenborg of Denver, Colorado; Liza Pingree of Boston, Massachusetts; Mary Bostick of Ardmore, Pennsylvania; Joseph Welsh of Philadelphia; Jennifer Welsh of Springfield, Pennsylvania; Ryan Welsh of Berwyn, Pennsylvania; Meghan Cakalli of East Norriton, Pennsylvania; Leigh Smith of London, England; Rob Fitzgerald of Washington, D.C; and Sean Fitzgerald of Clifton Park, New York. She is also survived by seventeen great-grandchildren.

A public viewing will be held on Tuesday, May 11 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at Pagano Funeral Home, 3711 Foulk Road, Pennsylvania, immediately followed by a Celebration of Life at 10:30 a.m. at the same location. Interment at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery in Springfield, Pennsylvania, will be private. Donations in her name may be made to Children's Hospital Cancer Center (https://www.chop.edu/giving). Online condolences may be made by visiting www.paganofuneralhome.com.

To view the Livestream of the funeral services, please Click Here or view the video below that will appear on Tuesday, May 11 at 10:30AM.