Rita Gough Emmell

Rita Gough Emmell passed away peacefully at home on December 17, 2024. Rita was born on January 20,1928 in Hartford,Connecticut. She moved with her family to northeast Washington D.C. as a young girl. Rita attended Saint Anthony’s grade school & high school. Rita met her husband, Hap while there and they were married in 1950. They were happily married for 60 years until his death in Feburary 2011.

Rita leaves behind her children Joan, Theresa, Cindy(Mark), Mark, Tim(Michelle), Christopher & Kevin(Terri). She had eleven grandchildren: Christina(Chris),Matthew(Rebecca), Damian, Brian, Steve(Dawn), Jon(Caitlin), Derek(Kelli), Chad, Kelly, Zach and Mikayla. She also was blessed with nineteen great grandchildren: Matthew, Anna, Savannah, Connor, Ashley, Ronan,Rylee, Emily, Aubria, Annabelle, Cayleigh, Blair, Declan, Logan, Brayden, Brinley, Everly, Bruce & Haven. In addition to her immediate family, Rita leaves behind her sister, Peggy Nicastri; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Gough; along with many loved nieces, nephews and friends.

Family was very important to Rita.  She always had a story or memory to share especially with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Rita loved life, loved to joke around and was not at a loss for words or an opinion. You knew exactly where you stood with her.  She was always there to help.

A Funeral Mass for Rita will be held at 10am on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 15661 Norbeck Blvd., Silver Spring, MD 20906.  A Burial Service will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring, MD.  Following the services, the family invites you to join them at a luncheon at Argyle Country Club, 14600 Argyle Club Road, Silver Spring, MD 20906.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: Montgomery Hospice, 1355 Piccard Drive, Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20850 or online at https://montgomeryhospice.org/.  Please include Rita Emmell name on check or on the online donation. 

or to: National Right to Life, P.O. Box 96498, Washington, D.C. 20077-7606, https://secure.anedot.com/nrlc/donate