Rita K. McCafferty

Rita Kathryn McCafferty

July 13, 1929 – January 13, 2026

Rita K. McCafferty (nee Fogleman), 96 ½ years young, went peacefully into the hands of the Lord on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, surrounded by her family.

Rita was born in Williamsport, PA, the youngest of eight children of E. Lee and Virginia Fogleman. She was a cheerleader at St. Joseph’s High School (Williamsport, PA) where she graduated in the top 25 of her class in 1947. She married John A. (“Jack”) McCafferty on November 22, 1952, whom she met while she was working near a Marine Corps Recruiting office in Williamsport. The story goes that it was “love at first sight” after she “winked” at Jack in his Marine Corps dress blues. Rita and Jack were married for 45 years until Jack’s sudden and untimely passing in 1997.

They raised eight children in five different states while Jack was serving honorably in the United States Marine Corps. In addition, Rita volunteered as a Girl Scout Leader and was elected and served for many years as a Judge of Elections in Delaware County. She also worked ten years as an Office Manager for Havertown MRI. Following Jack’s passing, Rita moved to her final residence in Gap, PA, where she spent her remaining 28 years next door to her daughter and her family. She leaves behind her loving children: John, Mike (Shannon), Maureen, Kathleen Willard (Walter), Brian (Patty), Sheila Dugan (Gene), Brenda Purcell (Clement), and Kevin, along with 24 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are invited to her visitation on Wednesday, January 21st, at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church (3500 School Lane, Drexel Hill, PA) from 9:30AM to 10:30AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial. Following Mass, Rita’s final resting place will be at Holy Cross Cemetery (625 Baily Rd., Yeadon, PA).

Click here for YouTube video: Rita K. McCafferty 

In lieu of flowers, Rita has requested donations be made in her name to either:

“Tunnels to Towers Foundation”

2361 Hylan Blvd.

Staten Island, NY 10306

(benefiting those who served in the United States Armed Forces and First Responders)

www.t2t.org

or

“American Macular Degeneration Foundation”

P.O. Box 515

Northampton, MA 01061-0515

(benefiting non-profit research for a cure for Macular blindness)

www.macular.org