Rita (Fera) D'Amico, 75, of Niagara Falls, NY passed away on Tuesday August 28, 2012 at Mt. St. Mary's Hospital in Lewiston, NY. Born in Cellara, Province of Cosenza Calabria, Italy she was the daughter of the late Luigi and Malfalda (Vizza) Fera.

Rita was educated in Italy and immigrated to Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada in 1958. On February 6, 1960 she married Vincenzo D'Amico at St. Anne's Church in Niagara Falls, Ontario and following her marriage moved to Niagara Falls, NY where she lived until the present time. Mr. D'Amico predeceased her on February 27, 1993. Rita was employed as a housekeeper at the former Caravan Hotel in Niagara Falls, and later on as a cook at the Como Restaurant. Afterwards Rita worked for over twenty years in the housekeeping department of Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center until her retirement in 1999.

Rita was an active member of several local fraternal organizations including the, Cristoforo Colombo Society Ladies Auxiliary, the Socialites, the Eagles Club and Club Italia in Niagara Falls, Ontario. In her leisure time, she loved dancing, shopping and traveling. She also enjoyed tending to her flower and vegetable garden, but her greatest pleasure was spending time with her grandchildren.

Rita is survived by her two daughters, Michelina 'Mickey' (Carl) Braham of Wheatfield, NY and Gioseppina 'Josephine' (Leroy) Smeal of Niagara Falls, NY; two grandsons, Vincent W. Braham and Jeffrey A. Smeal, one brother Giuseppi Fera of Bolton, Ontario; two sisters, Lina (Joseph) Sheffer of Wasaga Beach, Ontario and Anna Maria (Antonio) Fazzari of Collingwood, Ontario; her dear companion Fernando Scavo of Niagara Falls, Ontario and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was also predeceased by one brother Aldo M. Fera.

Visitation will be held on Friday from 4 – 8 p.m. at the M.J. COLUCCI & SON NIAGARA FUNERAL CHAPEL, 2730 MILITARY ROAD, NIAGARA FALLS, NY where funeral services will begin on Saturday September 1st at 9:15 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Vincent DePaul Parish at Prince of Peace Church, 1055 North Military Road, Niagara Falls, NY with Rev. Andrew Lauricella, officiating. Entombment in St. Joseph Cemetery, Niagara Falls, NY. Memorial donations may be made to Health Association of Niagara County Inc. (HANCI), 1302 Main Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14301 or to Roswell Park Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 631, Buffalo NY 14240.