Obituary of Rita DeSarro

Rita D. Bliley DeSarro Rita Bliley DeSarro died Monday, February 9, 2009. She was born in Erie on June 13, 1920, the daughter of the late Andrew and Tillie Moritz Bliley. She was a graduate of Saint Vincent School of Nursing. Rita volunteered for the Army Nurse Corps as a Registered Nurse serving active duty in London, England at the height of the German Blitz prior to the D-Day invasion. Following the liberation of France by the Allies, Lt. Rita Bliley assisted in establishing the 194th General Hospital located in a high school building just outside of Paris. While caring for the injured soldiers, Lt. Rita Bliley (DeSarro) stayed at the Chateau Headquarters previously occupied by General Rommel. Shortly after, she was re-stationed to Belgium in order to prepare for the ensuing Battle of the Bulge. During her time of service, Lt. Rita Bliley performed her duties admirably under severe wartime conditions. She received numerous medals and honors for her heroic actions. Lt. Rita Bliley is honored at the Women's War Memorial in Washington, D.C. After the War, Rita continued her nursing career at St. Vincent Hospital in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit until her retirement in 1987. Rita was a devout member of Our Lady of Peace Church for over 50 years. Rita was preceded in death by her sisters, Elizabeth and Rose, and her brothers, Vincent and Gerald, and a granddaughter, Angela DeSarro. Survivors include two daughters, Barbara DeSarro of St. Paul, MN and Mary Ann DeSarro of Erie, five sons: Albert, Vincent, and Mark DeSarro all of Denver, CO, Joseph DeSarro of St. Paul, MN and William DeSarro of Erie, eight grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Friends are invited to a prayer service at Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd. on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace R.C. Church at 1:30 p.m. Interment Laurel Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice. Enhance your memorial with a slideshow and video