Sr. Vita Marie Riccardelli, FMM

Vita Marie was born in Brooklyn, NY, on January 1, 1939. She grew up always wanting to be a missionary sister. As she got older, she came to know many different congregations but didn't feel comfortable until she visited our house to 45th Street, NY and met Sr. Rita McGuiness, FMM. Sr. Rita also welcomed Vita Marie to the Novitiate in North Providence, RI September 14, 1960. After her first vows, in 1963, Vita studied nursing at Fatima Hospital in North Providence and graduated as an LPN. After making final vows in 1966, she Went to Roslyn. While working in St. Francis Hospital, she studied at Nassau College and received her RN.

In 1973 Vita was missioned to England where she studied tropical diseases in Liverpool and from there she went to Ireland to study midwifery. This was followed by a mission sending to Ghana where she was a nurse, midwife and staff nurse at both Laura Hospital and Jirapa Hospital in the Upper West Region of Ghana.

Vita was missioned back to the U S Province and joyfully began her work on a Navajo Reservation at the Fort Defiance Indian Hospital in Arizona from 1986-1989. Vita recalled that her midwifery experience in Ghana came in handy while working on the Navajo Reservation.

Vita had a special love for life so it is no surprise that she had a lot of enthusiasm for her work as a midwife. In 1989 she joined four other sisters in an insertion near the border of southern New Mexico. Vita found a position as a nurse manager in Chaparral, NM. In her spare time Vita enjoyed camping with her little tent and cooking gear!!

After ten years in Chamberino she was recalled to St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn. She worked in the Women’s Center as a hospice nurse. Vita also helped in caring for her aging parents.

In more recent years, Vita was missioned to Boston to Our Lady of Hope Convent where she worked St. Anthony's Shrine. As her health declined Vita was missioned to Holy Family Convent and became a member of our Assisted Living Program.

All during her life, Vita was always sewing—making clothing, eye glass cases, decorations, etc.—anything to bring joy and happiness to all those around her.

As we look back on Vita’s ministries and the lives she touched, we believe she would say: “Lord, it has been good to be here! It has been a happy, wonderful life—every minute!

Sr. Vita went home to God on March 26, 2024.

Sr. Vita's visitation will be held on Thursday, April 4, 2024 from 4:00 - 7:00 pm in Holy Family Chapel 399 Fruit Hill Avenue, North Providence, RI 02911. Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, April 5, 2024 at 11:00 am in Holy Family Chapel. Burial will follow in Holy Family Cemetery. For online condolences, visit boyleandsonfunerals.com