Obituary of Rita Regina Nietupski

Your mother is always with you. She’s the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street. She’s the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick, the fragrance of life itself. She’s the cool hand on your brow when you’re not feeling well. She’s your breath in the air on a cold winter’s day. She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of the rainbow. She is Christmas morning. Your mother lives inside your laughter. She’s the place you came from, your first home, and she’s the map you follow with every step you take. She’s your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you, not time, not space, not even death. Rita Regina Nietupski passed away peacefully on August 9, 2015. She was 89 years old. Loving, caring, sweet, gentle, proud, and strong are some of the words commonly used to describe this wonderful woman to whom family was the most important thing. Rita’s incredible sense of style began in her early days working in New York City, following graduation from high school and stayed with her for all her days. Losing her father at a very early age, Rita became extremely close to her three older sisters. Those sisters, who worked as seamstresses in Manhattan’s garment district, made certain that our mother- even though money was tight- was always the best dressed “gal” in town! After reconnecting with the love of her life and moving from New Jersey to Erie in 1946, she adapted to country life and was as at home on a tractor as she was on the dance floor with her beloved Raymond. Rita enjoyed spending time with the many friends she made at Moon Meadows, the campground the Nietupski’s built and owned for many years. She also cherished friendships she made during more than 20 very happy, warm winters in Zephyrhills, Florida. She leaves a legacy of great memories-including hayrides, camp fires, sleepovers, and special presents-for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as well as her former coworkers and acquaintances who love hearing about the lovely Rita! Interestingly, Rita was one of the very first ever Erie Insurance employees (#6), leaving H.O. Hirts office to raise her four children. She later worked for (and pretty much ran!) the Erie County Parole Board for twenty years. She was preceded in death by her parents, Andrew and Mary Neidzwiecka Kazmierczak, three sisters: Therese Sullivan, Helen Grickowski, and Renee Krozier, a son, Raymond Dale Nietupski, and husband Raymond Thomas Nietupski. She is survived by her daughter Lynn Nietupski DiPlacido (Richard) and sons Mark Nietupski, Attorney Gery Nietupski (Lisa), daughter-in-law Gwen Nietupski, grandchildren: Andrea DiPlacido Denning (Daniel), Anthony DiPlacido (Sarah), Daniel Nietupski, Mallory Nietupski Riazzi (Jaime), Amanda Nietupski, Andrus (Ryan), Laurie Nietupski, Nicole Nietupski Rollins (Tim), Adam Nietupski (Erin), and Anabelle Nietupski. Rita also leaves behind (at last count!) 16 great-grandchildren, innumerable nieces and nephews, and a wagon full of memories. Rita’s family wishes to thank all of the tremendous caregivers she had during her “stint” at the Sarah Reed Retirement Center. She loved all of you, no matter what she said! A Memorial Service celebrating Rita’s extraordinary life will be held Saturday, August 15 at 10:00 a.m. at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to Mercyhurst Prep, 538 East Grandview Blvd., Erie, PA 16504 in her memory. Inurnment will be in Mary Queen of Peace following the service.