Obituary of Rita Anna (Marchesani) Olson

Rita A. Olson (nee Marchesani), 81, of Wyckoff, NJ passed away peacefully on Friday, January 31, 2020. She was a woman of faith and family. Rita was born and raised in South Philadelphia, PA. She was the second of four children of Michael and Mary [Renzi] Marchesani. Rita attended Annunciation Roman Catholic Elementary School and John W. Hallahan Catholic High School for girls. In high school she focused her studies in instrumental music, electing to play the trumpet. Her school frequently performed at Philadelphia’s Academy of Music. As a senior, she was selected as the first (solo trumpet) chair for the Archdiocesan high school symphony orchestra. She continued to perform after high school with alumnae groups and with the newly formed brass ensemble for the Philadelphia Eagles. Music was a constant throughout her life and Rita was an on-going church choir member and cantor. After high school, Rita began a professional career as a medical secretary. She worked at the Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital in Philadelphia for 11 years before she transferred to a US Army Hospital in Vicenza, Italy. Here she met her husband Bill. After their marriage in Italy, Rita returned to the VA hospital in Philadelphia while Bill served in Vietnam. They eventually moved to Kansas, where their first daughter JoAnn was born. After Bill’s discharge from the Army they moved to Maryland where they welcomed their second daughter, Christina. Rita was a life-long learner who accumulated numerous credit hours in colleges and universities in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia. She received her professional certificate in Pastoral Ministry from Trinity College in Washington, DC. Building on her many volunteer activities at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Potomac, MD, Rita became the first Director of Social Justice and on-going mentor to her successors. She was a founding board member of the Mercy Health Clinic created to serve uninsured, low-income adult residents of the community, and continued to volunteer there for many years. In addition to time spent with family and community, she had many interests including entertaining, theatre, crafts, and sports and remained a devoted Phillies and Eagles fan throughout her many moves. She was known for her culinary skills, her good counsel and actions, and the love and support she provided family and friends. Rita was a committed and caring mother, wife and “Nonna” throughout her life. She is survived by her loving husband of 51 years, Bill, her daughter JoAnn Krenitsky and her husband Bob, as well as her daughter Christina Zaybekian and her husband Armen. Also surviving are five grandchildren: Trevor Zaybekian, Anna Krenitsky, Charlie Zaybekian, Andrew Zaybekian and Bobby Krenitsky. She is also survived by her loving siblings – Dolores Benner, Grace Marchesani, and Michael Marchesani, sister-in-law Ann Kreger, and will be missed dearly by her large extended family and many longtime friends. Rita was a member of the St. Rita of Cascia Society and lived their values of peacemaking, healing, forgiveness and reconciliation. Rita will continue with her mission to spread devotion and evangelize the spirituality of the “Saint of the Impossible.” In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cascia Center at the National Shrine of St. Rita, Philadelphia, PA. https://www.saintritashrine.org/donate