Stabiler, Rita M.
Rita M. Stabiler, 94, of West Hartford, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 22, 2023.
Rita was born and raised in Baton Rouge, LA, daughter of the late John and Lena (Termini) Stabiler. Sadly, her mother passed after childbirth, and Rita was raised by her father and grandmother. It was very important to her family that she received a good education, and they sent her to St. Joseph Academy in Baton Rouge. She then received her Associate's Degree in Business in New Orleans, LA. Her father was a well-known professional photographer, and she worked with him at Stabiler's Studio when she was growing up. Rita moved to Los Angeles, CA in 1954 and was employed as an office manager for a distribution company. After retirement, she moved to Connecticut in 1994 to be closer to her brother and his family.
Rita was a loving sister, aunt, cousin, and dear friend. She will fondly be remembered as a quiet, giving, and considerate woman who loved life and laughter and spending time with her dogs and family. Rita was always pleasant and kind and was soft spoken with an endearing Southern drawl that she retained from her youth in Louisiana. She was genuinely interested in people's lives and would listen intently when they spoke to her.
From the time she was a small girl, her passion was dancing, and she learned all types of dances. Dancing was always her happy place and a way to express herself, and it only seemed fitting that she met the love of her life and best friend for over 25 years, Alexander "Bobby" Jackowski, Jr., who was also a dancer, at the Senior Center in Hartford. Together they danced in all the shows and created a deep friendship together. Every day they would go to Wendy's for lunch, and everyone knew who they were and exactly what they wanted to order. Rita and Bobby not only loved to dance together but also enjoyed taking drives to Old Saybrook to spend time at the beach.
Rita was a talented painter and sketch artist and loved to draw. She was always very stylish, loved to shop for clothes, was known for her love of sequins, and would "bedazzle" all her own clothes and dance outfits. Rita was a true lover of animals throughout her life, especially dogs, was very fond of her Doberman, Penny, and even named one of her dogs "Sequins." More than anything, she loved spending time with her family and long talks with Bobby. Rita leaves a legacy of beautiful memories that will live in the hearts of everyone who knew and loved her.
Rita leaves to cherish her memory, her sister-in-law, Jeannette Stabiler; her nieces, Jane Podolski, Catherine Grandahl and her husband Robert, and Mary Ann Newton and her husband James; her nephew, John Stabiler; great nieces and nephews; great-grand nieces and nephew, and many other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents and best friend, Bobby, she was predeceased by her brother, John Lawrence Stabiler, Jr.
Her family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 1, 9:30-10:30 a.m., at Carmon Poquonock Funeral Home, 1816 Poquonock Ave., Poquonock. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m., at St. Damien of Molokai Parish, St. Joseph Church, 1747 Poquonock Ave., Poquonock. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, and to honor her love of animals, donations in memory of Rita may be made to FIDELCO, 103 Vision Way, Bloomfield, CT 06002 or at www.fi delco.org. To leave a condolence for her family, please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com