Rita Anna (Belmonte) Buonopane passed away in her Alton home on June 13, 2018 surrounded by her children.

Loving daughter of Lawrence and Jennie M. (Campana) Belmonte, she was born May 16, 1926 in Boston, Massachusetts. Growing up in Revere and Everett, she enjoyed walking across farmland to visit with her Aunt Mary and many cousins.

First in her extended family to complete high school, Rita graduated on D-Day, June 6, 1944. She lived through the Great Depression and worked at Boston Naval Shipyard during WWII. Mom's favorite job was as a secretary for the NH National Guard. Here she was very highly valued and got to take two helicopter rides. Upon her retirement in 1992, she was given the Commander's Award for Civilian Service from the Dept. of the Army.

Mom's biggest joy was her family. She was very close to her parents and sisters, and lived with her parents until she married Frank Buonopane at age 27. She gave birth to six children in 13 years. Rita enjoyed spending time each summer with her sisters at their camps on Ell Pond in Maine. She also traveled to Bethany Beach with family for a week each summer in the 2000's and cherished other travel adventures with family and friends.

She loved her hilltop home of 27 years, with her tomatoes and flowers and abundance of wildlife. She loved to sit on her deck and enjoy the hummingbird visits.

Our mother expressed gratitude for her children and her health every day. Exercise classes with Jennifer Bourassa twice weekly for over two decades kept her young and gave her many new friends. Rita was a longtime parishioner at St. Katharine Drexel Church of Alton. She set an example of caring and loving kindness for her whole family.

Predeceased by her parents, youngest sister Florence (Flossie) and husband George Eriksen, foster brother Gilbert, her good friend Joan Bisson, and her former husband Frank Buonopane.

She is survived by her sister Rosemarie and husband Bernard Cincotta, her children Joyce and husband Gary White, Rikki Janice Ramsden, Sharon and husband Darryl Brown, Francis Buonopane, David and wife Joan, Paul and partner Faith Kerans and numerous nieces and nephews. Also surviving her are grandchildren Justin and Michelle McIver, Duncan McIver and Allison Morris, Jasmine McIver, Katiemae White and Bryan Hatch II, Miranda White and Cameron McKeever, Ethan and Susanna Buonopane, Jesse Buonopane, Lawrae Babka, Lauren Brown, Renee Brown, Anthony Buonopane, Vincent Buonopane and eight great-grandchildren. She will also be missed by friends Lia, Judy, Lonnie, and Sherry.

Calling hours will be at Peaslee Alton Funeral Home, 12 School Street, Alton, NH Monday, June 18 from 6 to 8 pm. Funeral Mass will be 10 am on Tuesday, June 19 at St. Katharine Drexel Church of Alton. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Rita's name to David's House 461 Mt Support Rd, Lebanon, NH or Central NH VNA & Hospice, 780 N. Main St, Laconia, NH.