Rita Stacy Francomano

Rita Stacy Francomano

Rita was raised in Kewanee and graduated from Kewanee High School in 1958. She went on to college and graduated from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley in 1962 with a B.S. in mathematics.

On September 4, 1965, Rita married John Francomano and moved to Baltimore, Maryland. She taught high school mathematics in Illinois for four years before marrying John, and continued teaching for another six years after moving to Baltimore. Rita gave birth to her first son, John Robert ("J.R.") in 1969. After the birth of their second son, James ("Jamie") in 1972, Rita became a stay-at-home mother.

When Jamie started school in 1978, Rita opened and operated a New Age Bookstore called "Avante Garde," where she continued to teach in the classrooms located upstairs. In addition, she lectured as a guest speaker on cruise ships, and conducted "Sacred Earth Tours" to Sedona, Arizona, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and Hopi Reservations for many years. Rita has written two family history cookbooks, one for each side of her family. Rita also enjoyed capturing the many activities of her family and granddaughters in her wonderfully creative and detailed scrapbooks. She also completed a biography of her late sister, Carol Stacy Peterson, from birth to age 21 for Carol's daughters.

In early 2007, Rita began publishing the Francomano Quarterly Newsletter. In August 2007, Rita attended the Stewart Family Reunion in Kewanee, and completed the Stewart Family History Book which traced the family roots back to the 19th century. Rita also helped her 94 year old motherin-law write her memoirs.

TRIBUTES:

Rita Francomano, died in 2007, I, unfortunately, don't know any of the details. Rita was an astrologer and had a metaphysical bookstore in Towson MD. She was one of the founders of the MD NCGR chapter and helped establish an astrology community in the Baltimore area.

-- Lucky Sweeny

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Rita Stacy Francomano was a deeply loving and spiritual person. In the Baltimore area and elsewhere in her travels she awakened, educated and nurtured a community with commitments to astrology and the sharing of metaphysical experience and knowledge. Rita brought people together, mentored writers and teachers, and facilitated many enriching individual spiritual journeys. According to www.findagrave.com, Rita was born October 22, 1940 in Kewanee, Illinois, died September 10, 2008 in Baltimore, Maryland, and is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Illinois. Her husband, two sons, her sons' families survive her. Thank you, Rita.

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RITA, MARY ELLEN GLASS (NOW DECEASED) AND I WERE CO SPONSORS OF THE ASTROLOGY GROUP IN BALTIMORE, Md. At that time, Rita was running the astrology bookstore and also astrology classes. It is from these two sources, that we were able to grow into a strong NCGR GROUP. As time went on, thru the classes and research projects, many prominent astrologers were developed. Who have written famous books? Rita was truly a guiding light and spirit in the Baltimore astrological community. When she sold her bookstore, she literally dropped out of sight, and was sorely missed. She seemed to prefer seclusion, which we all respected. I regret that I did not know that Rita had died, and was very sorry to find out after the Fact. I had tried to contact her from time to time, to no avail. Rita you left a very rich legacy in Baltimore. It is too bad that you slipped away unnoticed. Your spirit and contributions required a more elaborate send off. You memory will be revered.

--Margie Herskovitz

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Rita was tremendously important to me. I worked in and painted her store, took many many classes that she had arranged, was an active member of NCGR when it thrived under her care, and I have missed the Avante Garde and the community that she fostered. I too attempted to reach her in recent years but was rebuffed. It was puzzling but I respect her privacy, and I am SO SORRY she's gone!
--Sydney Roby

Source: findagrave.com

Birth: Oct. 22, 1940 Kewanee Henry County Illinois, USA

Death: Sep. 10, 2007 Baltimore Baltimore County Maryland, USA Rita

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CREDITS: Biography and picture from findagrave.com