Rita M Farrell

Rita M Farrell was reunited with her beloved husband Jack on May 26, 2020. Rita was born January 9, 1927 in Hammonton, New Jersey to James E Morano and Jennie (DeMarco) Morano. She was a graduate of Hammonton High School. Rita was not only a great beauty, but a beauty with brains. She graduated at the top of her class and the next day was hired by the Hammonton School Board as the Secretary to the Superintendent. This was quite an accomplishment for a 17-year-old young lady in the 1940's. If you asked Rita "How did you and Jack meet?" she would respond with a warm, childlike smile, "He picked me up at the bus stop." She loved telling stories of their courtship and marriage. She would tell her daughter, "You need to write a book about your father and I and call it 'It was a Love Story.'" Rita was brokenhearted when Jack passed in 2009, but with a smile on her face she would say, "When you have good memories you can live with your memories" along with "When you've had the best, you're not interested in the rest." Jack and Rita married on April 14, 1952 and shortly thereafter opened Jack's Market and Garden Center on the Black Horse Pike in Mays Landing, New Jersey. Rita spoke fondly of the early years when there was little money and they lived on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and lots of love. Jack and Rita grew the market and subsequent commercial produce delivery company into a thriving business. They taught their children Jack, David, and Mary Kay the meaning of hard work and the value of a dollar while making sure that as their children grew and experienced success, they never got too full of themselves. One of Jack's favorite mantras was "self-praise is no recommendation." From the spring flowers through the summer produce to the fall pumpkins and apples, Rita cared for the market as she cared for her family with devotion and love. Rita not only took great care of her loyal customers but handled the accounting and advised Jack on the direction of the business. Their winters were spent in a little-known place in the 1950's- Naples, Florida. They had barbecues on the beach and ran a charter fishing business. Though other family and friends soon followed, Jack and Rita were the first to discover paradise. Nothing was more important to Jack and Rita than family. This was never more evident than when their son James "David" was in a devastating car accident in 1997. They put their business and lives on hold to care for him until his passing in 2005. In Rita's later years she fine-tuned her quick wit and made everyone she met laugh and smile. She always had a kind word or compliment and always spoke her truth. She left this world as she lived, with incredible beauty and grace. Rita leaves behind her son, John Edward "Jack" Farrell III (Patricia Snyder) of Altamonte Springs, Florida, daughter Mary Kay Farrell of Voorhees, NJ, grandson Michael John Farrell of Ketchikan, Alaska, her brothers John Morano (Marge) and Ralph Morano (Lois) both of Hammonton and her beloved "puppy" Parker, as well as many other friends and family. In addition to her parents, husband and son, Rita is also predeceased by her daughter-in-law Beverly (Shaw) Farrell. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Township of Hamilton Rescue Squad, 1400 Route 50, Mays Landing, NJ 08330.