Rita M. Gallucci, 93, of Fort Wayne, passed away Wednesday December 6, 2023, at Lutheran Life Village at Inverness. Rita was born in Figline, Cosenza (Italy) on November 1, 1930, the daughter of the late Peter M. and Filomena Cundari. She received her master's degree in biology from Marygrove College in Detroit, but it was said that she "earned her PhD in motherhood". Rita married Frank L. Gallucci (Sr.) on July 24, 1954, and he preceded her in death on October 10, 2013, after 59 years of marriage. Rita started as a biology teacher, then a mother, later a travel agent and then a grandmother and great-grandmother. She was devoted to her family and to her Catholic Faith; she was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Arcola. Rita loved cooking for her family and friends, all were welcomed in her home and rarely left hungry. She also enjoyed gardening and she loved to travel. Rita is survived by her children, Louis (Carlyn) Gallucci of Smithville TN, Frank (Tina) Gallucci of Fort Wayne and Sandra (Ray) Wardell of Waddell AZ; her grandchildren, Alexander (Andrea) Gallucci of Fort Wayne, Maria (Lance) Lockstadt of Castalian Springs TN, Dominic Wardell of Fort Wayne, Philip Wardell of Graham WA, Victoria (Montana) Pedersen of Surprise AZ, Olivia Gallucci of Fort Wayne, Sophia Gallucci of Fort Wayne and great grandchildren, Annalouise, Josephine, Adeline, Julian, Tyson and Lincoln. Rita is also survived by her sisters, Louise Gallone of Fort Wayne, Patricia (Michael) Doherty of Fort Wayne, Laura (Prakash) Sathe of Ann Arbor MI, and her brother, Peter (Karen) Cundari of Novi MI. In addition to her parents and her husband Frank, Rita was also preceded in death by sons, Michael Gallucci and Peter Gallucci, and a grandson, Dante Gallucci. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated privately with Rita's family, although a Celebration of Rita's Life is being planned for a later date. She will be laid to rest with her husband Frank, in St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery in Arcola. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lutheran Life Villages, in memory of Rita Gallucci, online at https://lutheranlifevillages.org/donate, or by mail to 8075 Glencarin Blvd. Fort Wayne IN 46804. Rita's family would like to thank the loving caregivers of Lutheran Life Villages, long-term caregivers Marsha Dawkins, Patricia Doherty, and Olivia Gallucci, who provided loving care for years and during the difficult end of her life, and all those who cared for Rita. Words cannot begin to express the family's immense appreciation. Arrangements were entrusted to Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Ave.