Obituary of Rita S. Desmond

Rita S. Desmond, 94, of Freehold died Sunday, July 13, 2008 at Bartley Healthcare Center, Jackson Township. Mrs. Desmond was born in Jersey City and had resided in West New York for 31 years before moving to Freehold in 1977. She was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima R.C. Church, Freehold; a past president of the Altar Rosary Society of St. Joseph of the Palisades Church, West New York; and a member of the St. Rose of Lima Senior Citizens Club. Her husband, Frank E. Desmond, died in 1968. She was also predeceased by two brothers, James and William Snell; two sisters, Mary Smith and Ruth Mulligan; and a grandson, Daniel Fitzsimmons. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Paul E. and Loretta Desmond, Toms River; two daughters and sons-in-law, Rita Claire and Deacon John Fitzsimmons, Freehold Township, and Patricia R. and Robert Vargo, Marlboro Township; a sister, Gertrude Carroll, Cranford; ten grandchildren; and 11 great grandchildren. Visiting will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Tuesday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church, Freehold http://www.stroseoflima.com/ on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. followed by interment at Holy Name Cemetery, Jersey City. Memorial donations to St. Rose of Lima School, 51 Lincoln Place, Freehold, NJ 07728 would be appreciated.