Mary Shirley Derita

Mary Shirley DeRita, 85, of Wakefield, passed away peacefully Thursday, surrounded by her loving family. She was the wife of the late Vincent R. DeRita. Born in Providence, she was the daughter of the late Everett and Carmella (Palumbo) Travis. Mrs. DeRita worked as a hairdresser at the Scallop Shell Nursing Home for many years. She was a fantastic card player and will be remembered for being a dedicated loving mother and grandmother. She is survived by four children; Donna D. Tanguay and her husband Ray of Wakefield, Cynthia R. Scuncio of Wakefield, Cheryl A. Zannella of Wakefield, and Vincent R. DeRita, Jr. and his wife Jill, of Wakefield; eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, with another one expected any day; two brothers, Everett Travis, Jr. of Hope Mills, NC and Robert Travis of Bar Harbor, ME; and two sisters, Assunta Lescarbeau of Warwick and Joanne Cameron of Providence. She was predeceased by twin sisters, Joan Travis and Jean Hollingsworth. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am Tuesday at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 114 High Street, Wakefield. Burial will follow in St. Francis Cemetery, Peace Dale. Visiting hours are at the Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia Street, Wakefield, Monday, 4-7 pm. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 245 Waterman St, # 306, Providence, RI 02906.