Rita Genevieve Kelleher

Rita Genevieve Kelleher, 90, passed away in Sonoma on July 13, 2015 from complications of Parkinson’s disease. A native San Franciscan, she was born April 21, 1925, the daughter of the late Richard and Hannah Mangan, who were born in Ireland.

Rita lived by two guidelines, “Treat other people the way you would like to be treated,” and “If you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything at all,” beliefs that led her to be a genuinely kind, strong and supportive woman. Wisdom was often shared and spirits always lifted following her oft-asked, “How ‘bout a cup of tea?” A quiet Catholic, she prayed the Angelus at noon and 6 p.m. and turned often to Our Mother of Perpetual Help and St. Anthony.

Rita played several major roles in her life -- wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, and she excelled at each of them. She spent ten years as a career girl in downtown San Francisco, bookkeeping for Standard Oil and the Junior Boot Shop. She then married her late husband Neil Kelleher in 1954, and they shared a wonderful life for 56 years. Together they happily raised their family in Noe Valley, highlighted by Sunday picnics and sunny summer vacations. Rita hosted the best birthday parties and traditional Easter dinners, and made her famous cream puffs for special occasions. For St. Patrick’s Day she baked Irish bread for family and neighbors, always wrapping it in tin foil with green ribbon.

Rita and Neil celebrated the 13th, their wedding date, every month, and returned often to Carmel, where they began their honeymoon. In their retirement they went on many trips, especially enjoying their time in Ireland and Octobers in Vermont with the Schratz family. They spent much of their time in Sonoma, but never moved from their City home.

She is survived by her daughter Carole and her husband Jim Schratz, her son Dan and his wife Monique, and her grandchildren Jeremiah and Madison, who were the light of her life. She was the beloved Aunt Rita to Jim and Father Tom Seagrave, Jane Calavano and John, Mirna, Jason, Joe and John Albert Burke, as well as other wonderful nieces and nephews, six great-great nieces and a great-great nephew. She was very close to her siblings Eleanor Seagrave, Richard, Leo and Tom Mangan, who predeceased her.

Rita cherished her lifelong friends from St. John’s, the Turba Felix, Loretta Flageollet, Bernadette Maffei, Helen McGinty and the late Pat Bradley. She loved her dear and devoted friend Erna Aparicio. She was blessed with new friends in Sonoma, Arminda Garcia and Marilyn Deasy, who immeasurably enhanced her final years.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, August 6 at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church, 19 St. Marys Ave, San Francisco. A luncheon will follow.