Rita Lopa

Rita C. Lopa, 78, died Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at her home. Born in Bound Brook, she was the daughter of Alfredo and Anunziata Papa. A lifelong resident, she graduated Bound Brook High School in 1954 and continued her education in banking. She began working at Somerset Savings Bank as a teller and retired in 1994, after 39 years, as an internal auditor. Mrs. Lopa was very active in the community. She was a former member of the Bound Brook Rescue Squad, Ladies Auxiliary, Bound Brook Lady Elks, Bound Brook Seniors, and the Red Hat Organization. She was a communicant of St. Mary of Czestochowa Church, and a former member of the choir. She was a vivacious woman; the life of the party. She loved singing and dancing and once performed on stage at the Brook Theater. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Much of her time was spent in the bleachers cheering her children and then her grandchildren on as they wrestled and cheered. She loved Bound Brook High School Wrestling and you could often hear the teams cheering for her, “RitaQualiminaConchettaPapaLopa”. Mrs. Lopa was predeceased by her brother, Nazzarino, and her sisters, Anna and Emma. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Paul, her daughter, Paulette, and her husband, James Kirchner of Somerville, and her son, James, and his wife, Rita of Bridgewater; her grandchildren, James, Kelsey, and Paulie Kirchner, Sofia, Emanuela and Ava Lopa, her brothers, Alfredo, and his wife, Barbara of Middlesex, Raymond, and his wife, Carolyn of Readington, sisters, Helen, and her husband, Tony Testa of Hamilton, and Eva Terlizzi of Raritan, as well as many nieces and nephews and godchildren. Funeral services will begin 8:45 A.M. Saturday, June 28, at the funeral home, followed by a 9:30 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary of Czestochowa Church in Bound Brook. Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Bridgewater. Visitation will be Friday, 2:00 – 4:00 and 7:00 - 9:00 P. M. at the funeral home.