Rita Marie Maloney Versace

Rita Marie (Maloney) Versace passed away peacefully at home from congestive heart failure on August 18, 2017 at the age of 94. Throughout her life, Rita was committed to living as a Catholic Christian and was devoted to her large extended family, her children, and her grandchildren. She had a genuine interest in everyone she met, and was always ready to listen and be supportive. Her kitchen was the center of her home, where visitors and friends new and old were always given a warm, welcoming embrace. Rita was born and raised in Columbus, OH in a devout Irish/German family of ten. When she was 18, she took vows with the Order of the Sisters of Charity of the Good Shepherd, living and working in the semi-cloistered convent in Ohio for a number of years until she chose to leave the convent and attend The College of St. Mary of the Springs in Columbus (later Ohio Dominican College.) Upon graduation, she was awarded a scholarship for graduate study in psychology at Ohio State University, where she met her future husband John Versace, and received a Soroptimist scholarship to do her doctoral research in Paris. Upon receiving their Ph.Ds, John and Rita married in 1956 and relocated to Detroit MI where she practiced in various agencies before opening a private practice in Bloomfield Township as a consulting pyschologist and marriage counselor until her retirement in 1989. The Versaces relocated to Santa Fe NM in 1999 to be with their first grandchild. Rita became a member of the Association of Christian Therapists in 1977, an ecumenical association providing resources and support to Christian healthcare professionals, clergy, and associates. She eventually served as president of the organization for three years; a highlight of her tenure was a group visit to the Vatican in 1991, where she was able to briefly tell Pope John Paul about ACT. Predeceased by her parents and all of her siblings, Rita is survived by her husband John and their children Devin Versace (and family) of Benicia CA; Candelora Versace (and family) of Santa Fe; Lisa Versace of Santa Fe; and Mary Versace (and family) of Santa Fe; as well as sister-in-law Margaret Maloney; many, many beloved nieces and nephews; and special friends Isabella Tucci, Barbara Riley, Cathy Cavanaugh, Corinne Lovato, and honorary family member Helen Lucero. The Versace family extends its gratitude to the compassionate staff of Heritage Home Healthcare and Hospice; also Frances Salle and Coming Home Connections; and caregivers Ellen Antill, Donna Mildern, Ali Smith, Stephanie Kirchhoffer, Julie Taggart, and Maryann DeStefano. The family also thanks Father Dennis Garcia of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Father Joseph Vigil of St Joseph's Church (Pueblo CO) and Father Robert Lussier of the Pecos Benedictine Monastery; also Raymond Lucero and the gracious staff at Rivera Family Funeral Home. All are welcome to join the services. A vigil and reciting of the Rosary will be held at the Rivera Family Funeral Home Kiva Chapel of Light on Sunday, August 27, 2017 at 5:00pm, preceded by a viewing and visitation starting at 4:30pm. The Funeral Mass will be Monday, August 28, 2017 at the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (100 S. Guadalupe Street, Santa Fe) at 9:30am, with the burial to follow at the Santa Fe National Cemetery at 11:15. Friends of the family are invited to gather at the family home in the afternoon. DONATIONS may be made in Rita's name in support of the Carmelite nuns to Carmelite Monastery of Santa Fe, 49 Mt. Carmel Road, Santa Fe NM 87505