Rita Louise Bell

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Rita L. Bell, on Friday July 26, 2024 at the age of 77 at Parrish Medical Center, Titusville, FL after a courageous battle with cancer, never giving up hope.

Born and raised in Winchester, MA, she was the only child of Herbert and Rita M. Molinari. Rita graduated from Marycliff Academy, in Winchester, MA.

During her life, Rita worked in various careers in sales and physician’s offices. Her love of people inspired her to open her home as a bed & breakfast for a time as well as a daycare. It was this love of meeting new people that also saw her hosting several exchange students from a variety of countries and renting rooms to local college students. The more the merrier was always her motto.

Rita loved to cook, host dinners and compare recipes. She loved seeing new places and people which prompted her and her husband of 44 years, Douglas Bell, to sell their home in New Hampshire and move to Florida, Tennessee, Alabama and back to Florida.

By far, Rita’s greatest joy was to be called mom and Grammy. She frequently said she always felt that was her purpose in this life was to be a mother. She was happiest spending time with her family and friends doing whatever she could to make things special for each of them. Her final gift was waiting for her daughter Deanna and grandson Blaine to arrive in FL, opening her eyes several times, a slight squeeze of the hand before passing the next day with her husband by her side.

Along with her parents, she was predeceased by her first husband Stephen Waitkunas.

She will forever be loved and missed by her husband Douglas Bell, daughter Deanna Hunt and her husband Forrest, her grandson Blaine Labrecque, daughter Lea Major and her step-son Aaron Bell and his daughters Abigail & Arianna.

A private service will be held.