Posted June 10, 2025

Aston, PA—Sister Francis Anita Rizzo, OSF, 95, died in Assisi House on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 75 years. Sister Francis Anita was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she was a member of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish and a graduate of West Catholic High School. She entered the congregation in 1947 and professed her first vows in 1950. She earned a BA in English from Mount St. Mary’s College. Her ministries focused primarily on education and congregational service.

Sister Francis Anita served for 18 years in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, where she taught at St. Clement School, Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, and Immaculate Conception School, all in Baltimore. She also served in pastoral ministry at St. Joseph Hospital in Towson and St. Stephen’s Parish in Bradshaw.

Additional ministry in education included four years teaching at Corpus Christi School in Elsmere, Delaware, and one year teaching at Our Lady of Peace School in North Augusta, South Carolina.

For the past 47 years, Sister Francis Anita ministered within her congregation in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. She lovingly served her local house community for 38 years at Our Lady of Convent in Aston. In 2016, she moved to Assisi House, the congregation’s retirement residence in Aston, where she continued her ministry through prayer and hospitality until her death.

All services will be held in Assisi House on Thursday, June 12, 2025, and will be livestreamed. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 9:30 A.M., followed by a viewing. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 A.M. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. Sister Francis Anita is survived by her niece and nephews and her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.