Rita C. Petrini

Rita C. Petrini, 54, of Houston, Texas passed away on Thursday July 28, 2011. She was born on September 5, 1956 in Steubenville, Ohio to William and Winifred Calabria. Rita graduated from the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. She then worked for over 20 years as a legal researcher for Ron Tigner of Houston, Texas. Rita considered motherhood to be her greatest gift and treasured the unique bonds she shared with each of her daughters and sons, their spouses and their children. She loved bring a mother to “her tribe” – nurturing her children’s spirits, gifts and graces – and found peace in knowing that they will always be there for one another. Since childhood Rita has always taken pride in her “posse” of great friends. Each one of them meant something special to her and she is forever grateful for their faithfulness. Rita’s family and friends filled her life with joy. She felt blessed by the love, strength and companionship of her devoted husband Dale, who made her feel beautiful every day. Rita is survived by her husband, Dale G. Petrini; daughter, Karis Elaine Barker of Houston, Texas, son, Jonathan H. Petrini of Houston, Texas, daughter, Christina P. Servadjian and husband Greg of Dallas, Texas, son, Michael J. Petrini and wife Kristen and their son Thomas of Dallas, Texas, son, Christopher C. Petrini of Dallas, Texas, daughter, Holly Barker of Washington, D.C., daughter, Celenie Singley and husband Danny and their children Jackson and Hunter Singley of San Diego, California , son, Jason Barker and wife Lucy and their children Olivia and Caroline Barker of Iowa City, Iowa; brother, Michael Calabria and wife Kaybeth of Wintersville, Ohio, and sister, Elaine Calabria of Wintersville, Ohio. Special thanks to Charles Levenbach, M.D., Kimberly Burns, P.A. and their staff for their exceptional treatment, compassion, concern and support throughout this nine year journey. The family will receive friends from 4:00 until 8:00pm Tuesday August 2, 2011 at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00am on Wednesday August 3, 2011 in the St. Anne Catholic Church, 2140 Westheimer Rd. Houston, Texas 77098. Interment will follow in the Memorial Oaks Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to MD Anderson’s Ovarian Cancer Research Center. Online donations may be made at http://www.mdanderson.org/how-you-can-help/ovarian-cancer-research.html.