It is with great sadness that the family of Rita Catherine McKeown (Denny) announces her passing after a brief illness, on Saturday, May 23, 2020, at the age of 94 years. Rita was predeceased by her beloved husband of 71 years, James McKeown, as well as her cherished daughter Geraldine Venditto and her husband Michael. Rita will be lovingly remembered by her children, James McKeown (Ramona), Patricia Sicilia (John), and Mary McKeown. She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren Jennifer, Michael, David, Vincent, Anne-Marie, Christopher, Nicholas, Gina, Henry, Andrew, and Julie, as well as her nine great-grandchildren. Rita will also be sadly missed by her dear sister, Sister Jeanne Margaret Denny, MSBT.

Rita was born and raised in Philadelphia. She met the love of her life, Jim, in 1946 when she was working as a waitress in a diner. Jim, a U.S. Navy Veteran, would come in to the diner and order pie and coffee, and would say to his friends, "I'm going to marry that girl!" From there, they went on their first date to a movie, and nine months later, they got married on July 5, 1947.

In the 1940's, Rita worked at Enterprise in Philadelphia as a secretary before getting married. In the 1960's, she loved her job working as a waitress in the Crystal Tea Room at Wanamakers in Philadelphia.Throughout the next few decades, for nearly 25 years, until her retirement in the 1990's, she was an assistant reading aide to elementary school children in the School District of Philadelphia.

Rita was an active member of St. Timothy's Parish in Philadelphia.

Funeral services are private due to Covid-19