Rita "Nana" Parise of Hampshire, IL passed away on Friday, October 13th, 2023 at Arden Courts of North Hills, Pittsburgh, PA.  She was born on February 14th,1938 in Belcastro Italy, the daughter of Aquino and Tommasina (Brescia) Carrozza.

She came to Sharpsburg, PA from Belcastro in 1956 with her father and sister Stella.  In 1958 her mother, sister Sylvia, and brother Salvatore joined her and her father.  She worked at the Pittsburgh Casing Company helping to support her family while taking classes to learn English and become an American citizen. In 1961 she achieved her goal of becoming a U.S. Citizen. In 1964 she married Robert Parise. As an Air Force spouse she lived on bases at Rapid City South Dakota, Suffolk County New York, and West Point New York before moving to Shaler, PA  where she raised their three sons. The family later moved to St. Charles, IL and then to Hampshire IL. In addition to raising her family, she had a catering business with her very close friend Patti, and was also a talented seamstress, making clothes for her grandchildren and altering wedding dresses.

She loved cooking for her family and friends and enjoyed spending her free time gardening.  Her grandchildren, along with everyone in the community, knew her by "Nana."  It was always "Hi Nana!"  She had the deepest love for and great pride in all her grandchildren.  Whenever a new grandchild was born she was known to stay with them at the hospital until they came home.

Her passion in life was taking care of her loved ones.  Her home was always open to family and friends.  Any friends of family members quickly became family to her.  No one left her house hungry and they were almost always sent home with even more home cooked food.  Whenever a loved one would fall sick, she was always there to take care of them.

Her children remember her as the glue that held the family together through her love and kindness and fun loving spirit.  She was the soul of her family and will be dearly missed by all those whose lives she touched.

She is survived by her sons Robert (Joni Ulrich), William (Kathryn Hensgen), and John (Megan Walker).  She is survived by 9 grandchildren, Robert, Angelina, Alexandra, Isabella, Dominic, Anthony, Celia, Gabriella, and Jaxson. She is  survived by her sisters, Stella and Sylvia.   She is preceded in death by her husband Robert, father Aquino, mother Tommasina, brothers Joseph and Salvatore, and sisters Narina and Ines.

Funeral services will be held at Eloise B. Kyper Funeral Home, 2702 Mt. Royal Blvd. Glenshaw, PA 15116  Visitation will be held on Friday, October 20th, 2023 from 1-3PM and 5-8PM.  A Catholic Mass will take place at St. Bonaventure Church-St. Matthew Parish,  2001 Mt Royal Blvd, Glenshaw, PA 15116 on Saturday, October 21st, 2023 at 9:30AM. For those who wish to attend the Funeral Mass, please meet at St. Bonaventure Church-St. Matthew Parish