At the age of 82, Rita Ungaro Schiavone, the founder of Aid For Friends. Aid For Friends provides free meals and friendly visiting to isolated frail elderly and disabled homebound persons in the Greater Philadelphia area. Over its 43-year history, more than 50,000 Aid For Friends volunteers and contributors have provided more than 16 million meals to 15,500 individuals, enabling them to remain in their homes and live in relative dignity. Rita received many awards and was recognized by city, state, and national groups for her contributions, including The Papal Cross: Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (for service to the community and church, bestowed by His Holiness John Paul II, 1998).

Rita is survived by her beloved husband of 62 years, Michael A. Schiavone DDS, her four sons Michael A. Schiavone II M.D. (Barbara Luther), Vincent J. Schiavone (Linda), Joseph J. Schiavone (Ann), and Steven M. Schiavone Esq. (Julie Spinrad), her six grandchildren, Nicole Wenger (Joseph), Michael Joseph (Kristen Drennen), Matt, Michael Angelo III, Peter, and Grace, and her great-grandchildren, Joseph and Emmalynn Wenger.

Rita will be missed by her many cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, the many thousands of volunteers and client-friends of Aid For Friends. All are invited to share their memories of Rita on the Aid For Friends FaceBook page https://www.facebook.com/AidForFriends/

Relatives, friends and volunteers are invited to her viewing Friday March 31 from 3 pm to 9 pm at Aid For Friends 12271 Townsend Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19154 (215-464-2224) and Saturday April 1 from 9 am to 11 am at St. Jerome's Roman Catholic Church, 8100 Colfax St., Philadelphia, PA 19136 followed by her Funeral Mass at 11 am. Internment Resurrection Cem.
Contributions can be made to AID FOR FRIENDS Rita's Fund at www.aidforfriends.org