Rita Mae Griggs

Rita Mae Griggs (nee Crescenzo) age 87 of Franklin Park, NJ and formerly of Piscataway and Manchester, NJ passed away Saturday, September 16, 2023.

She was born and raised in Hammonton, NJ and graduated from Hammonton High School in 1953. Rita was a member of the women’s basketball team and was the highest scorer in the state. She went on to receive her Bachelor’s Degree from Seton Hill University as a Dietician in 1957. Rita’s greatest blessing was her four daughters and her number one joy was her family. She loved to crochet and would crochet a blanket for all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved to play golf and travel with friends and family. Rita made it a priority to plan annual family trips with her children and grandchildren to various destinations. She loved to cook for her friends and family and was known for her amazing apple pie.

She is predeceased by the love of her life, her husband Joseph Paul Griggs, parents William and Jennie Crescenzo, brothers; William, Donald D.D.S., and Robert Crescenzo, sister-in-law Marie K. Crescenzo, and nephew Peter Crescenzo.

Rita Mae is survived by her four daughters, Shelly Risoli (Chris), Lisa Lauch (Tim), Bernadette Waterfield (Ed) and Mary Violante (Frank), and her sisters-in-law Kathleen Crescenzo and Rita Crescenzo. She is the loving grandmother to TJ and Michael Lauch, Justin, Joe and Jenna Risoli, Madison and Michael Waterfield, Dominic and Olivia Violante, and eight wonderful great grandchildren with one on the way.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her visitation Wednesday, September 20, 2023 from 10:00 – 11:00am at St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Parish – St. Anthony of Padua Church 285 Rt. 206 Hammonton, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am. Entombment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery 124 S. First Rd. Hammonton, NJ 08037.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Marinella Funeral Home Hammonton, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association in memory of Rita Mae at www.heart.org/donate