Rita M. Gargotta, 62, passed away at Lancaster General Hospital on May 13, 2009.

An educator for over 30 years, summer camp counselor and former Girl Scout leader, Rita touched the lives of many.  She was a Spanish and Italian teacher at numerous area colleges, including F&M College, LVC, York College of PA, and Millersville University.  Previously, Rita taught Spanish for 12 years at Marple Newton Senior High.

She was multi-talented, adventurous and creative, even exhibiting her own artwork in Sicily, Italy as she lived there with her husband.  Rita was bright, confident and had a vivacious personality.  She had friends around the world and loved to travel.  She will be greatly missed and never forgotten.

Born near Chicago, Rita was the loving wife of Agostino Gargotta of East Petersburg, PA and Termini Imerese, Italy.  The couple recently celebrated  their 25th wedding anniversary in Italy, along with their daughter Julie.  She was the daughter of Solveig (Bjorndal) Kristinich of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and originally Oslo, Norway.  She was preceded in death by her father, George Kristinich of Malvern, Pennsylvania.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral Service on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 1:30pm from the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Chapel, 3110 Lititz Pk. Lititz, PA 17543, 717-560-5100. Visitation with the family will be held at the funeral home from 12-1:30pm. Interment will be at Conestoga Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please support her daughter, Julie, by making an online donation for the upcoming Purple Stride 5K for pancreatic cancer. http://www.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=306916, under Julie Gargotta. To send the family online condolences please visit www.snyderfuneralhome.com