Rita D. Conti (Lanni), age 94, of Malden, formerly of Medford, passed away peacefully Tuesday, August 1st, at the Bear Hill Nursing Home in Wakefield. She was the daughter of the late Bennie and the late Antoinette (Toffalo) Lanni.
Rita was a lifelong resident of Medford, though she lived in Malden for the past few years. Throughout her life, Rita was employed as a waitress in Medford restaurants. She was always a delight to be around, and had a profound inner strength that those around her admired. Rita deeply valued her family and friends, and always ensured everyone felt welcome in her home. She assisted in raising her grandchildren, and loved her great grandchildren deeply. She was the type of woman who people always felt as though she were their own grandmother.
The beloved wife of the late Salvatore Conti, and the late John Lawless, Rita was the devoted mother of Deborah Spooner and her husband Robert of Medford. She was the loving grandmother of Robert Spooner Jr., and his fiancé Nicole Rouillard of Florida, and Jillian McCarthy and her husband Andrew of Wakefield. She was a loving great grandmother to Haley Spooner of Florida, and Declan McCarthy of Wakefield. She was the dear sister of Theresa Lunn and her husband Tim of Lynn, Jack Lanni and his wife Janet of Malden. She is predeceased by her late brothers and sisters: Benni Lanni, Arthur Lanni, Albert Lanni, Bobby Lanni, Paul Lanni, Marguerite Corrado, Frances Stahler, and Pauline D’Allesandro. She also leaves behind many loving nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be conducted for Rita in the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford on Monday, August 7th, at 12:30 PM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend and may visit with family from 10:30 – 12:30 PM. Services will conclude with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made In Rita’s name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 381059, or to the M.S.P.C.A - Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, 350 South Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02130.