Rita (Muti) Bowerfind

Rita Bowerfind, née Muti, lifelong resident of Ramsey, died unexpectedly on October 13, 2025, while visiting her daughter in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She is survived by her beloved husband, Kurt Bowerfind, by her cherished daughter and only child, Misty Tripoli, and son-in-law Antonio Tripoli, by her three treasured grandsons, Mauro, Luca and River Tripoli, in whom she took great pride, and by her brother, Richard Muti and his wife, Lorraine.

She is also survived by her nieces, Shannon DePaul (Marc), Jill White, née Muti, and Jennifer Ferrara (Marc), née Muti; her nephews, Jeffrey Muti (Antoinette) and Thomas Creighton, Jr.; her grandnephews Nico DePaul (Bruna), Jack White, Vincent DePaul and Connor Muti; and her grandnieces, Sarah Sblendorio (Ryan), Josey White, Romey DePaul, Phoebe White and Addi Ferrara.

Rita was a hard worker her entire life, primarily as a school crossing guard at her Cherry Lane and Shuart Lane corner and as a lunchroom aide at the Eric Smith Middle School. In those two capacities over many years, she met and loved in her own special way thousands of Ramsey schoolchildren, which brought her great joy.

Rita’s second great joy was her immediate and extended families. She was predeceased by her mother and father, Mafalda (“Muffie”) Muti, née Milano, and Mauro Richard (“Dick”) Muti, and by her sister, Rosemarie Creighton, and brother-in-law, Thomas Creighton. Rita and Rosemarie were as close as two sisters can be, until Rosemarie’s passing in 1999.

Blessed with an extended family that once included 27 uncles and aunts and more than 40 cousins, Rita was continually involved in all their lives--as a helpmate when help was needed, as a celebrator at their special occasions, as a consoler in their times of grief, and as a keeper of the Muti-Milano family heritage, of which she was immensely proud.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 4 PM - 8 PM with a service being conducted at 7 PM at Van Emburgh-Sneider-Pernice Funeral Home, 109 Darlington Avenue, Ramsey. Interment will be held on Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 10 AM at Maryrest Cemetery in Mahwah. 

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