Rita Halstead-Biggy, 68, of Suffern, NY, died March 1, 2015. Arrangements by Scarr Funeral Home.
Rita (Puglisi) Halstead-Biggy passed away peacefully in her home on Sunday, March 1, surrounded by her loved ones.
Rita was born September 19, 1946 in Brooklyn, NY, to Stephen J. Puglisi and Marietta (Masullo) Puglisi. The family later moved to Pearl River, NY, where she went to St. Margaret’s School and Pearl River High School where she graduated in 1964. She earned her baccalaureate degree in English in 1968 from the College of Mount Saint Vincent in Riverdale. She later became a certified teacher after completing her education degree at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She earned her Master’s degree in theology from St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie, NY.
Rita was married in 1969 to Kenneth T. Halstead and their daughter, Cara, was born the following year. They later divorced. She was married in 1983 to Roger Biggy.
She is survived by her husband, Roger Biggy; her daughter Cara (Halstead) Cea and her husband, Christian Cea; her stepsons, Mark Biggy and his girlfriend, Suzanne Bassano and her daughter Hayley, and David Biggy and his wife, Melissa Biggy; and her grandchildren, Christian Cea, Angela Cea, Jeff Biggy, Tommy Biggy, and Herb Wills. She is also survived by her brother Joseph Puglisi and his wife, Kerry Puglisi; and her sister Mary (Puglisi) Vallo and her husband, Ron Vallo and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Rita held many teaching positions through the years. She most recently was an adjunct professor in the Life Skills program at Rockland Community College. Rita loved books, knitting, swimming and vacationing in Nantucket and in Myrtle Beach at the Meher Baba Spiritual Center.
Rita’s friends and family remember her as a loving, spiritual, faithful person who was ahead of her time with her knowledge and love of “new age” spiritual topics and healthful, organic eating. Her vast collection of cookbooks is a testament to her love of eating and nutrition.
Rita’s husband Roger cared for her in their home throughout the last years of her life as she battled Lewy Body Dementia.
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10:00am, April 10, 2015 at Sacred Heart R. C. Church in Suffern, NY.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the United Hospice of Rockland County www.hospiceofrockland.org, 845-634-4974.
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