MARGARITA ASHWORTH

MARGARITA Ashworth, nee Burke, died peacefully at home in Edinburgh on Friday, October 22, aged 89.

She was born in Manchester in 1932, the second eldest of Mary and Francis Burke’s six children, and moved to Rossendale during WWII, attending St James the Less R.C. School,

Rawtenstall.

With a keen eye for style, she went on to work in Egan’s ladies clothes shop, Bank Street.

Rita met her beloved husband, Ronnie, across the crowded room of the Astoria Ballroom where they loved to quickstep and jive.

They were married in 1958 at St. James the Less R.C. Church and were devout members of the parish until they relocated to Scotland in 2001.

Rita and Ronnie were known for their devotion to each other.

They lived and loved with an unceasing passion and energy beyond their years.

Rita and Ronnie also lived for their family: their elder daughter Tracey, her husband Steve, and their daughters Georgia and Antonia, their younger daughter Francesca, her sons James, Oliver, Isaac and Finlay and her daughter, Natasha, as well as Natasha’s husband Dave and their sons

Lucas, Leo and Xavier ‘Wee Ronnie.’ Rita also leaves brothers-in-law Garry and Bill, nephews Tim, Damian and Julian, niece Joanne, and their families, as well as good friends.

A requiem mass will take place at 11am on Friday, November 12 at St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, Edinburgh, followed by burial at Dean Cemetery.

Flowers via funeral director William Purves Funeral Directors, Edinburgh.