Rita A. McCabe

McCabe. Rita Rita McCabe of West Hartford died on July 28, 2013. She was born in Middletown on June 29, 1923, daughter of the late Anna and Harry McCabe. After graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1941 and Colby College in 1945, she joined IBM in Hartford as a Systems Service Representative. In 1953, she was transferred to Endicott, New York to teach salesmen. In 1955 she was promoted to IBM headquarters in New York City as manager of Systems Service Representatives in the U.S. She held several leadership positions during her 33 year career with IBM and was a recognized leader in coordinating IBM’s commitment to Equal Opportunity and advancement of women. She retired from IBM in 1979. Rita moved to Essex in 1979 and went into Real Estate. She was an active and devoted member of Our Lady of Sorrows Church where she served as Lector and Eucharistic Minister. She also served on the Board of the Lower Valley of Visiting Nurses. She is Trustee Emeritus of Colby College after serving on their Board of Trustees for 16 years. She also served on the Board of Trustees of Iona College in New Rochelle, NY for several years, on the Board of Jennie Clarkson Home for Children in Valhalla, New York and was a member of the NY Women’s Council. In 2004, Rita moved to the McAuley in West Hartford where she lived until the present time. She is survived by her brother, Joseph H. McCabe of West Hartford, her nephews John McCabe and his wife Leslie of Worcester, MA, Douglas McCabe of Saratoga Springs, NY, Joseph E. McCabe of West Hartford, Bruce McCabe and his wife Jennifer of Bountiful, Utah and Thomas McCabe of Hartford. Her nieces Janet Cahill of Wilmington, MA, Jean McCabe and her husband Dean Farina of Martha’s Vineyard, Joyce O’Rourke and her husband Joseph of West Hartford, Patricia Hensen and her husband William of Collinsville, Sheila McCabe of West Hartford and her sister-in-law Elisabeth McCabe of Stuart, FL and many great-nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by her brother John McCabe and James McCabe and her niece Maureen McCabe Dickerson and her sister-in-law Grace McCabe Rita was a devoted and caring aunt and her life was dedicated to the love for her family and for her Catholic faith. She was there for every family occasion, a surrogate mother and grandmother and although unassuming was the center piece for everyone’s attention. She was a helping hand to everyone she met. The funeral Mass will be held on August 1 at 11:00 am at St. Timothy’s Church, 1116 North Main St., West Hartford. Burial will be at 3:00 p.m. at Cavalry Cemetery, Middletown. Calling hours are 9:30 am to 11am at St. Timothy’s Church. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. Mary Home in West Hartford. On line remembrances may be made at www.molloyfuneralhome.com.

Rita A. McCabe

June 29, 1923 - July 28, 2013