Rita A. Sweatman, 78, of Chestertown, NY, passed away, Saturday, March 26, 2011 at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in NYC. Born in Manhattan, Rita attended Holy Cross in Brooklyn, Lynbrook HS and New Paltz University where she received a bachelor degree in education. She taught at privates schools in New York City before joining her husband who was stationed with the Air Force in Wiesbaden, Germany, where she taught elementary school. Rita later resided in Edison, NJ for 30 years where she was a substitute teacher for Woodbridge and Edison township schools, volunteered at Roosevelt Hospital, and was a communicant of St. Helena Church in Edison, NJ before retiring in 1995 to the Adirondacks in Chestertown, NY.  Rita welcomed all into her kitchen and was famous for her ability to cook large delicious meals and for her great sense of humor.

Daughter of the late Johan (Bob) and Josephine Schuessler, Rita was predeceased by her beloved husband of 53 years Robert A Sweatman and a sister Hertha Daw Tartaglia. She is survived by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Donald and Eleanor Sweatman of Staten Island NY; 5 children, Lynda (Fialka) and Gerald (Pete)  Wardell of Pt. Pleasant, NJ, Robert & Kristy Sweatman of South Plainfield NJ, Cathy and Scott LaBella of Cliffwood Beach, NJ, John and Elizabeth Sweatman of  Metuchen NJ and Jennifer and John Kudrick of Allentown NJ; 9 grandchildren, Jessy, Michael, Patrick, Kimberly, Kathryn, Natalie, Taylor, Jack and John; 6 great grand children, nieces and nephews, her welsh corgi Penny and her many wonderful friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place 10:30AM on Friday, April 1st at St Mary's Church, 45 Crosswicks St. Bordentown, NJ. Friends may call on Thursday, March 31st , from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Peppler Funeral Home, 114 South Main St., Allentown, N.J. 08501. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Assoc. 1 Union St Ste 301, Robbinsville, NJ 08691, Pt Pleasant Boro First Aid Squad 1200 Beaver Dam Rd., Point Pleasant, NJ 08742 or your local ASPCA.