Rita "Wooie" Anderson Dowd

Milton - Rita, a retired St Bernard Parish teacher, peacefully went to her eternal rest surrounded by her loving family on Friday, August 8, 2025. Rita was 93 ½ years old. She was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 15, 1932. She was a resident of Chalmette, Louisiana for 43 years and has resided in Milton, Louisiana since 2005. Rita is survived by her six devoted children, Maureen Moity (Dave), Penny Liuzza, George J. Dowd, Jr. (Stephanie), Shawn Dowd, Erin Dowd, and Meghan Rodela (Joseph). She will forever be cherished and remembered by her twelve grandchildren, Artie, Colleen, Ryan, Kyle, Alex, Micky, Kathryn, Kellen, Jacob, Thomas, Sera and Aubrey, and her 19 great grandchildren, with number 20 arriving this fall. Rita is survived by her siblings, Stanley L. Anderson, Jr. and Sherry A. Chimento, and by many loving nieces and nephews. Rita is preceded in death by her infant daughter, Kathleen, her parents Stanley L. Anderson and Yvonne Melancon Anderson, her grandson, Daniel Joseph Dowd and her loyal sister Mary Louise A. Perelli. Rita devoted her life to family, community and the joy of learning. For decades she served as a dedicated school teacher shaping young minds with her knowledge, encouragement, wit and a genuine love of education. Rita loved the arts. Through the years she had season tickets to Le Petit Theatre and Saenger Theatre in New Orleans, and the Heymann Performing Arts Center in Lafayette. Rita was an avid sports fan. She enjoyed playing, basketball, tennis, and softball. In later years she enjoyed cheering for LSU and UL football and baseball, and girls softball and basketball. She was a Saints fan from the very beginning. Whether she was cheering for her favorite teams from the stands or watching on TV, she brought the same passion to sports as she did to the rest of her life. Rita was an expert Video game player, usually beating her family member opponents. She enjoyed daily crossword and word puzzles, completing them in record time. She loved her family’s Bay St. Louis home where she spent decades of summers relaxing at “The Bay” with her family. She enjoyed traveling to Europe, Cruising and many memorable Casino visits to the Gulf Coast with her sisters and family. Above all, Rita cherished her family. She was a source of wisdom, humor, sarcasm and unconditional love. Her warmth filled every gathering, and her strength was a guiding light through the years. She was a loving and devoted mom and teacher, always there with a helping hand and loving advice. A Mass in celebration of Rita’s life will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church, 2320 Paris Road, Chalmette, Louisiana. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with Mass at 11:00 a.m. Following the Mass, graveside Interment of Ashes will be at St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, 3421 Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana. Friends and family are invited to share memories and honor a life so well lived. Her life lives on in the countless lives she touched, the lessons she taught and the love she shared. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered. Arrangements have been entrusted to Cypress Funeral Home & Crematory, 206 W. Lafayette St., Maurice, LA 70555.

Rita "Wooie" Anderson Dowd

February 15, 1932 - August 8, 2025