Rita Smith-Wade-El, 70, passed away early in the morning of Dec. 29, 2018, at her Lancaster city home, following a 10-year battle with triple-negative breast cancer. She was surrounded by family and friends at the time of her death.

Rita was born to James Edward and Eva Mae (born Stephens) Smith on October 1, 1948, in Washington, D.C. After graduating from McKinley Technical High School in Washington, she attended Barnard College, earning a bachelor's degree in psychology. She went on to earn her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, beginning a long career in academia. After teaching at East Stroudsburg University, Temple University, and the University of Pennsylvania, she moved to Lancaster, and began teaching at Millersville University.

It was at Millersville where she would spend the next 35 years of her career. There, she founded the African American Studies Minor, and the Black Culture Celebration, contributing also to numerous other programs and institutes. She remained on the faculty at Millersville until her death, teaching courses until the end of summer and advising students well into the fall of 2018.

A lifelong Catholic, Rita was a parishioner, lector, Eucharistic minister, and member of the social justice committee at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Her faith and sense of justice guided her to overcome many of the hurdles set before her, and to devote her life to the service of others. Her namesake was St. Rita of Cascia, a patron of impossible causes – a role Dr. Smith-Wade-El embraced with fervor, as was Rita.

Her colleagues, students, and friends will remember her loving but no-nonsense attitude, her tireless work ethic, and her bottomless material and spiritual generosity. They will also remember her love of Motown music, of the color red (which covered her kitchen cabinets, her coats, her furniture, and her car), and of being right.

She is survived by her two sons – Ayodele Smith-Jackson (38), and Ismail-Smith-Wade-El (29), as well as countless students, friends, colleagues, and communities, which are less for her passing and more for what she has left behind.

Thursday, January 10, 2019 there will be a viewing starting at 5:30pm at Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home located at 414 E. King St., Lancaster, PA 17602. At 7:30pm on Thursday there will be an Eastern Star Funeral Service followed by an Omega Omega Ceremony by the sisters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority at 8:00pm. Friday, January 11, 2019, the viewing time will begin at 6:00pm at Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home. At 8:30pm there will be a rosary prayer service held by the Catholic Daughters of the Americas followed by Divine Office held by the Secular Order of the Discalced Carmelites – Harrisburg Chapter. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at 11:00am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church located at 558 W Walnut St, Lancaster, PA 17603 with Reverend Michael Messner as Celebrant. Guests will be received at the church between 10:00am and 11:00am. Following services, guest will be invited to a luncheon at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Interment will be private.

The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Lancaster County Community Foundation at 24 W King Street, Suite 201, Lancaster, PA 17603, with a note that the contribution is intended for the Dr. Rita Smith-Wade-El Legacy Fund.