Rita Rose (Smith) Munzer, of Warwick passed away Sunday at Scalabrini Villa. She was the wife of the late J. Howard Munzer and the mother of the late Patricia Jean Munzer.

Born in Chicago, a daughter of the late Frank P. and Marie (Arnold) Smith, she lived in Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin and taught school in those states before coming to Rhode Island in the early 70's. She received a B.S. Degree from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and worked in a WW II defense plant on the third shift. She took graduate courses at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and Rhode Island College in Providence. In Warwick she taught at Wicks, Scott and Drum Rock School. She was actively involved in the Metric Movement and was the author of various metric materials. Warwick Teacher of the Year in 1977 and one of the finalists for Rhode Island Teacher of the Year.

She joined St. Gregory The Great Parish when it held services at the grange hall on Toll Gate Road. She served on many committees over the years. She worked on Budget Accounting and was a Eucharistic Minister and served in that capacity at Kent Hospital.
Rita was an active member of several community organizations: Warwick Art Museum, where she served as Co-President, Vice President and Board Member, Alpha Delta Kappa, where she served as Vice President and Secretary and East Greenwich Yacht Club, where she served on the Race Committee and Social Committee.

She is survived by her sister Mary P. Ponstein, wife of the late Jack Ponstein, of Downers Grove, IL and a niece and several nephews including James Ponstein of Woodstock, IL. She was the sister of the late Frank P. Smith, Jr. and Monica Cassidy and her husband Frank.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, April 4, 2011 at 10:00 am in St. Gregory The Great Church, 360 Cowesett Road, Warwick. Burial will follow in R.I. Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Exeter. Relatives and friends are invited. Calling hours are respectfully omitted.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory to St. Gregory The Great Church Memorial Fund, 360 Cowesett Rd., Warwick, RI 02886 would be appreciated. Arrangements by THE URQUHART-MURPHY FUNERAL HOME.

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Urquhart - Murphy Funeral Home
800-812 Greenwich Avenue
Warwick, Rhode Island 02886
401-737-3510