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Rita Mary Cudworth, at the age of 100, passed away peacefully at her apartment at Kingston Residence Santa Fe, NM in the loving care of Presbyterian Hospice Services, Santa Fe, NM and the staff at Kingston on October 2, 2023. Rita was born in Lowell, MA on 11/25/1922. She was the oldest daughter of Richard and Charlotte (McVey) Botti, wife of the late Richard A. Cudworth, and Mother of the late Lois Ann Diakoff. She attended St. Joseph High School and Lowell Commercial College. After marrying Richard Cudworth, she resided in Lowell and Boston, MA for many years and later moved to Chicago, IL and in 1972 to San Antonio, TX, where she lived with her husband for over 30 years. Several years after her husband’s passing, she moved to Santa Fe, NM to be near her sister and brother-in-law. While living in Boston, Rita worked for Massachusetts Memorial Hospital as an Administrative Assistant in the Intensive Care Unit, one of the first such units in a Boston hospital. In Chicago, she worked as an Administrative Assistant at the Wesley Memorial Hospital. After coming to San Antonio, she worked for Manpower, which led her to a job at the San Antonio Symphony for 12 years in the box office. As a young adult, Rita sang on the radio in Lowell, MA. She was an avid book reader all her life and always up to date on local and world events. Many people enjoyed interesting conversation with Rita. Rita and her husband were volunteers at the San Antonio Audubon Society where Rita was the secretary of that local chapter. They were Bluebirds at Methodist Hospital for 12 years. They were also part of a group that founded the classical radio station, KPAC. Rita is preceded in dealth by her beloved husband Richard, her beloved daughter Lois Diakoff, her parents and six siblings. She is survived by her son-in-law Harry Diakoff of New York and her sister Maureen Johnson and her husband Paul of New Mexico, as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and several godchildren around the country. Rita will be laid to rest at Mission Park North, San Antonio, TX with her beloved husband Richard. A private internment will be held in November. At Rita’s request, donations may be made in her name to the Audubon Society, KPAC (the classical radio station) or PHS Hospice in Santa Fe, NM.

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Rita Mary Cudworth

November 25, 1922 - October 2, 2023