Rita A. Powers

Rita A Powers was born on July 6th 1936 in Chicago, IL to Antoinette( Baiocchi ) and William Anderson and left this Earth on April 7th 2020 in Rockford, IL in the arms of her daughter Susan and surrounded by the voices of all of her children and grandchildren.

Rita grew up the proud daughter of a Chicago police officer and her beautiful Italian speaking mother. She would often tell stories of how growing up, the community would take care of her family as a perk of her dad being a members of the great Chicago police force. During the Great Depression on Christmas morning a knock at the door left a surprise box of toilet paper on their doorstep. With the world situation now, it is a gift we sadly can once again all appreciate . Rita also told of the great adventure that her mother took in the long journey on a boat from Italy with her brother to get to America. How their parents sent them over for a better life with all their belongings in a trunk that had to be tossed off the side of the boat.

Rita grew up with 7 siblings. She was very close to them her entire life. She grew into a stunning woman with beautiful wavy dark hair and smiling blue eyes. She married Frank Powers and, though many ups and downs Rita’s most proud accomplishment in life were her 6 children. They were the start to a very large and close knit circle of love that will continue with Rita ever at the heart of it.

Rita was not famous, except in the eyes of her grandchildren, she was their ultimate biggest fan. One of her children recalled a frantic phone call from her saying there had been a string of robberies in the neighborhood and she was worried about it. When asked what she was worried about being stolen she said "well I have all these beautiful pictures of you kids and the grand kids". Such a great lesson in the things that should be treasured. She knew the true magic of performers, whether that be singers, dancers, or actors. Rita was never afraid to break out in song and dance. And if you were lucky enough to see this sight you knew that it was impossible not to feel the magic she felt. Dean Martin, Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, she loved all the greats, but Frank Sinatra was undoubtedly her person and remained that way until her very last day. Rita with her whole heart believed that anything was possible. Sometimes to a fault. She took you at your word. She believed in every person’s truth. She made every person feel important. She had an unwavering faith in God, and often times her prayers seemed to have some sort of direct line straight to heaven for what she kept in her prayers often came true.

Rita left a huge hole that can never be filled in the hearts of so many she loved and we loved her. We will miss her sweet voice, her famous scrambled eggs, her endless supply of chocolate donuts, her butter soft hands and how they felt as she rubbed your head, her laughter, her belt out in song, her stories, her phone calls. The absence of her presence we will never get over. We believe, as she did, that she is in the loving arms of our Lord now. That her many siblings that have gone before her met her with wide open arms. That old blue eyes himself has made her a drink and is singing her a song while she sits next to him and belts it out. When you feel the warm breeze brush across your forehead, know that she sent you a head massage. When you see the sun shine through your window, listen hard as you may hear her sing to you, “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine”. And when Frank Sinatra comes on the radio, get up and dance, she’s right there with you.

Rita’s life and legacy will be cherished and kept alive by her 6 children and their spouses, Bill (Terri) Powers, Karen (Dan) O’Connor, Sue (Mike Lazzerini) Powers, Mary (Steve) Forrest, Frank (Tammy) Powers, and Tony (Lori) Powers; her grandchildren Katie (JR) Pleines, Charlie Powers, Haley (Derek) Dickey, Danny O'Connor, Anne (Sasha) Snyder, Steve (Michelle) Forrest, Kelly Forrest, Braden Powers, Jake Powers, Conner Powers, Brady Powers, Bobby Powers; her 8 great grandchildren Jack Pleines, James Pleines, John Pleines, Bobby Dickey, Clay Dickey, Evelia Forrest, Marielle Forrest and Silas Snyder; her sister Patricia Davis (John) and her brother Thomas Anderson.
In addition to her many other family members and friends of whom she loved so dearly.
She was predeceased in death by her parents, William and Antoinette (nee Baiochi) Anderson; her brothers Joe, Bill and Jim Anderson; her sisters Mary Ann Powers, Carol (George) Crusius and sister-in-law, Paddy Anderson.

The family wishes to thank the selfless staff of surgeons, resident doctors and nurses at Rockford’s Mercy Javon Bea Hospital for their unwavering care and support in her final days.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to JDRF.org Official site- End Type 1 Diabetes.