Rita L. Biddle

Rita L. Biddle, beloved daughter, wife, mother, granny, great-granny and friend passed away peacefully at home in the early morning of April 17, 2024, at the age of 89; just a few weeks shy of her 90th birthday. Rita was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania and was the only child of the late Helene Kaltmaier Menk and Thomas Edward Lawhorn. Raised in Wilmington, Delaware, she attended grammar school at Saint Joseph School on the Brandywine and was a proud graduate of Ursuline Academy, class of 1952. Besides raising her (5) children, Rita enjoyed a career as a customer service representative, ultimately retiring from Mercedes Benz Credit Corporation. After Rita’s initial retirement she enjoyed a second career with Brandywine School District as the “lunch lady” at Mount Pleasant High School. Rita was a member of the Newark Senior Center where she enjoyed playing water volleyball. She was also a past member of the Ladies Auxiliary at Five Points Fire Company and F.O.E #74. Active in her Christian faith and spirituality Rita was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church where she sang in the choir and St. Helena’s Catholic Church where she volunteered her time with the food outreach program along with teaching religious education to the children. After moving to Newark, Delaware she also became a parishioner at Holy Family Catholic Church. Rita treasured spending time with her beloved family and holiday gatherings were always a special time. She enjoyed many pastimes which included gardening, country line dancing, reading, feeding the many birds who came to visit her yard, rushing and caning chair restoration, trips to Rehoboth Beach for a hot dog at Gus & Gus’s, bowling, and trying her luck at the slots. Each year she always looked forward to attending Oktoberfest at the Delaware Saengerbund for some authentic German food, music and fun along with the annual Indian Pow Wow in Sussex County. In addition to her parents Rita was predeceased by her husband Carroll N. Biddle and her grandsons, Christopher T. McMullen and Clint W. Conrad. Rita is dearly missed by her loving children; Patricia L. Conrad (Donald, Jr.), Catherine L. Dalgarn (Richard), Suzann M. Shorb, Thomas G. McMullen (Malissa), and Debra L. Finocchiaro (Thomas), (12) grandchildren; Eric Douglas, Michael Reagan (Raina), Donald Conrad, III (Carmen), Tina Worsley- Wilson (Troy), Jeannie McMullen (Erin O’Brien), Michael Dorazio (Laura Hancock), Larry Shorb, III (Krysta), Kristina Shorb, Brianna McMullen (Mark Dennison), Robbie McMullen, Shane Rauso (Danielle) and Kimberly Willette-Whorton (Josh), (9) great grandchildren; Grady Reagan, Kinley Reagan, Liam Conrad, Levi Conrad, Finn McMullen, Sunny McMullen, Jayce Dorazio, Sebastian Rauso and Sloane Rauso, and her cousin Joanie Prusinowski. Rita’s family would like to thank everyone who supported and cared for our mother, especially Jennifer Garrett, her caregiver and friend for the past year. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10 am to 11 am on Friday, May 3, 2024, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 West Park Place, Newark, DE, where a celebration of life will begin at 11 am. Interment will follow in Riverview Cemetery, 3300 N. Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19802. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rita’s name to Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company, P.O. Box 148 Newark, Delaware 19713 or online by clicking here.