Obituary of Rita Gertrude Alexander

Deep River, CT – On Monday, August 26, 2019, Rita Gertrude (Donahue) Alexander passed away peacefully after a lengthy illness.  Rita was born in Waterbury, CT on January 21, 1944, the beloved daughter of the late John and Gertrude (Hartigan) Donahue.  Rita is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 43 years, Gregory B. Alexander, as well as four children:  daughter, Rhonda (Pogodzienski) Scherpf and her husband Bob of Kensington, NH; daughter, Susan (Pogodzienski) Peck and her husband Kevin of Andover, MA; son, Michael Pogodzienski and his wife Meghan of Southbury, CT; and, son, Justin Alexander and his wife Megan of Grantham, NH. Rita will be greatly missed by her eight adoring grandchildren, Ryan and Karli Scherpf, Hannah and Connor Peck, Matthew and Allison Pogodzienski, and Grady and Penelope Alexander.  Rita was also predeceased by her first husband of 9 years, Ronald Pogodzienski, in 1974. Rita also leaves behind countless friends, neighbors, and extended family that she loved, cared for, and entertained throughout her life. Rita was a woman of great faith and was a longtime member of St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Chester, CT.  With her strong roots in Waterbury, CT, Rita attended Saint Peter & Paul Grammar School, Sacred Heart High School, and Saint Mary’s Nursing School.  Since the age of 20, Rita has held her Registered Nursing license and worked at Saint Mary’s Hospital, Middlesex Hospital, and numerous family physician’s offices throughout the CT shoreline area.  Rita chose nursing as her lifelong profession because she enjoyed helping others.  Rita was a member of the Hemlock Homemakers, Lower Valley Junior Woman’s Club, and many local school PTOs for her children.  Rita loved her gardens and enjoyed sailing and camping in earlier years. Rita will be remembered as a consummate caregiver throughout her life.  If she was not caring for patients at the local physician’s office, Rita was caring for her loving family and friends, always cooking and entertaining for holidays, birthdays, or just a weekend cookout.  Rita was an amazing cook and will be remembered for her fabulous eggplant parmesan, holiday-specific butter cookies, strawberry rhubarb pie, baked beans and coleslaw.  Christmas was Rita’s favorite time of year, with endless decorations, food, and gifts.  Rita always gave more to others than she needed in return and she was a strong, determined, feisty Irishwoman until the end. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 from 5:00PM to 7:00PM at the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main Street in Centerbrook. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, September 4, 2019 at 10:30AM at Saint Joseph Church, 48 Middlesex Avenue in Chester. Burial will follow in Saint Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Rita’s name to the Alzheimers Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Avenue, 16^th Floor, New York, New York 10001. To share a memory of Rita or send a condolence to her family please visit www.rwwfh.com