Tamaqua woman still on the job

About two decades ago, when Ken Dunkelberger was a Tamaqua high school student, he knew cafeteria worker Elsie Rita as someone who wasn't afraid to speak her mind, and someone who was usually right.

She was 80 then. Thursday afternoon, her coworkers, friends and school district administrators and teachers helped her celebrate her 100th birthday, and 40 years of work in the school cafeteria.

"The way I feel now, I want to be 200," Rita said. "I'm not going to quit."

Her statements were met with pleased smiles and laughter. And it's no surprise that at Rita's surprise party, she continually made everyone laugh.

Her birthday was celebrated all day, as students signed a gigantic birthday card which covered the bulletin board in the cafeteria. Along the wall, where Rita stood at work, student Kyle Weaver had made a poster where he listed dozens of things which were happening 100 years ago, such as "a pound of sugar cost 14 cents."

"She's something else," said Ann Trovinger, who has worked with Rita for about four years. "She has a wonderful sense of humor and shows kindness to everybody."

Rita said those traits have been her secret to a long, healthy and happy life.

"One enemy is one too many," she said. "Pray a little every day, and make somebody smile."

"That's classic," said Dunkelberger, who is director of technology for the school district. "She's exactly the same, and she's probably the most truthful person I've ever met."

In addition to working about two hours a day in the cafeteria, Rita also volunteers daily in the geriatric unit at St. Luke's Hospital, Coaldale, where she often leads the patients there in exercises. She takes a bus back and forth to the hospital.

"I think she's an inspiration to us all," said coworker Barb Schwartz, who has worked with Rita for about five years. "She is just amazing."

Another worker, head cook Karen Berezwick, said she couldn't remember Rita missing a day of work in 11 years.

"I remember when she was a cafeteria monitor and she would blow a whistle to keep the kids in line," Berezwick said. "Even in bad weather, no matter what, she would be here."

Rita was born March, 13, 1914 in Lansford to Assunta and Florindo DeMarco. She was married to Joseph V. Rita, who worked at Atlas Powder for 49 years. He is now deceased.

"I was raised Italian, so I've always loved to be involved in cooking," Rita said. "People are living longer than they used to, and I'm one of them."

Elsie and her husband had three children: Joseph A. Rita, of Nevada; Rita Repinec of Tamaqua; and Pat Rita of New Hampshire.

She also has eight grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.