Rita Pio

PIO Yola Rita Pio (née Menna) - 103 years old (10/1/1918 to 5/14/2022) passed away in her Tamarac, Florida home quietly and peacefully. She was the devoted wife of Albert F. Pio (dec) for 60 years. She was born in Ambler, Pennylvania to Frank and Maria Menna. She had one brother, Angelo and two sisters Palmyra “Polly” Geldi and Caroline “Carrie” Owens - all are deceased. She is survived by her nephews Jack Geldi, Bart Pio and Joseph Valentine and nieces Gail Smith, Delia Pio Schulte and Gina Pio Cossman and their families. Her nieces, Ernesta Dozzi Fragnito, Barbara Pio, Diane Tonnesen and Denise Morris are deceased. Rita and Albert helped Albert’s father, Bartolomeo Pio, create and develop the successful Bartolomeo Pio Wines and Spirits Corporation which was sold to Gallo Wines in the 1980’s. Rita and Albert had homes in Erdenheim and Blue Bell, Pennylvania and vacation homes on Long Beach Island and Sea Isle City, New Jersey. They purchased another Winter home in Tamarac, Florida in the 1970’s. That home became Rita’s permanent residence in 1999 after Albert‘s passing. She was a talented amateur actress and played many leading roles for the Whitemarsh Valley Players outside of Philadelphia. She loved to play the piano and was also a dedicated and talented golfer as well as being very talented with needlepoint. She delighted in helping her husband with his business, was a volunteer Red Cross nurse during WWII, an active advocate of animal protection causes. She also delighted in helping her nephews and nieces. Gifts in lieu of flowers can be sent to the Angelo F. Menna Staff Training and Development Fund of the Southeastern Pennylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross (2221 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103) or to an animal rights and protection not-for-profit organization. Her funeral service followed by her interment will be at the Woodland Mausoleum Chapel in Whitemarsh Memorial Park, 1169 Limekiln Pike, Ambler, PA 19002 on Saturday, May 21, 2022. Visitation at 10:00 A.M. followed by Funeral Service at 11A.M. A luncheon for family and friends will follow.