Anita Lois Rafferty

Anita "NeeDa" Petta Rafferty, 92, passed away peacefully on day, October date, 2022 at The Maple Pointe Assisted Living Facility in Rockville Center, New York. She was born on November 16, 1929 in Brooklyn, New York to the late Joseph Petta and Mildred Paladino Petta.

Along with her parents, Anita is reunited in passing with her loving husband, James Rafferty and her brothers; Lewis Petta and Joseph Petta.

Anita graduated from Hofstra University with an education major and a theater minor. She taught elementary school and was beloved by her second and third grade students.  After having her own children, she devoted her time to raising her large family and returned to education to substitute teach in the Port Washington, New York School District. She also taught catechism at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Port Washington to second graders preparing for their first Holy Communion.

Anita was a woman with a heart of gold and had a smile that lit up a room. Anita enjoyed theater, movies, music and loved to sing and dance. She was known to stand up and sing at events in front of an audience of hundreds and for her family at home, which brought a lot of joyful memories. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered for her infectious belly laughter and her kind caring demeanor.

Left to cherish Anita's memory are her children, James J. Rafferty, Timothy W. Rafferty, Susan M. DeGaetano, Lynn A. LeClere, Thomas S. Rafferty, Terence R. Rafferty, Mary A. Voight, Kerry A. Lewandoski, her fifteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren as well as a large and loving extended group of family and friends.

A Celebration of Anita’s life will be held at 11:00AM, Monday, October 24, 2022 at St. John the Baptist RC Church, 1488 N Country Rd. Wading River, NY 11792. 

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