Obituary of Rita Dolbey

Rita DeMarco Dolbey, age 99, of Collegeville, PA and formerly of Drexel Hill, PA, went to be with our Lord on the afternoon of May 27, 2024.  She died peacefully in her bed at home.   

In 1925, Rita was born to Eva and Angelo DeMarco on the third floor of their family home in South Philadelphia.  She shared a close bond throughout her life with her sister Marian and brother Fred. Family was paramount to the DeMarco's and Rita contributed to ensuring that daily interactions and Sunday dinners with extended family continued through the next generation. 

In 1958, while working as a manager at the Reuben H Donnelley Company, Rita met and married Mark Dolbey. Together they started a family and spent the next 50 years in Drexel Hill, PA (Saint Charles parish). Rita devoted herself to raising her two children, Donna and Craig, and later worked part time in the camera department of Clover Department store in Springfield, PA.

Rita was a very strong, capable, and generous women with a passion for helping others. She believed actions were more important than words and she rarely sat still. She could always be counted on to lend a hand to family, friends, and neighbors. She enjoyed learning new things and tackling challenges of all kinds. She was an avid "adventure" traveler who never said no to an exciting (and potentially dangerous) trip.  Above all though, her joy was being a mom, and later a nana, and great-nana. 

Following Mark's death, Rita moved to Collegeville, PA to be closer to her daughter.  There, she became a member of Saint Eleanor's parish and began a new series of charitable and fun activities. She was still driving at age 96 and continued to live independently until her death.

Rita always expressed gratitude and felt very blessed for the many wonderful family members, neighbors, and friends that she loved and cherished throughout her life.  She was a shining example of God's light and she will be greatly missed. Rita is survived by her daughter Donna (Andy) Rykaczewski of Collegeville, son Craig (Donna Capoferri-Dolbey) of Melbourne FL, grandsons Adam (Britiney) Rykaczewski, Ian (Janae) Rykaczewski, and Steven Dolbey and great-grandson Jaxyn Rykaczewski. 

A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, June 10, 2024 at 11:00 AM at St. Eleanor RC Church, 647 Locust St., Collegeville, PA 19426.  Relatives and friends are invited to the visitation on Monday, June 10 from 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM at the Church.

Interment will take place on Monday, June 10 at 1:30 PM at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, 830 Highland Rd, Newtown, PA 18940.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Eleanor RC Church at the above address or St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_icid=header-btn-donate-now

Arrangements by Moore, Snear & Ruggiero Funeral Home, 224 W. Main St., Trappe, PA 19426, (610) 489-7900 www.msrfh.com