Obituary of Rita A. Gell

Rita Ann (Hurder) Gell, 92, went to be with our Lord April 15, 2025 after a brief illness leaving behind a legacy of Faith, Hope and Love.
Born in Boston, MA, Rita and her family moved to the Fulton and Syracuse, NY area as a young child.  As the second child of 6, Rita remembered her childhood as simple and free filled with fun, roller skating and trips to visit family in Boston during the Great Depression.  
Rita met her husband Jerry at Eastwood High even then cheering him on in sports. They married in 1953 returning to live and raise a family of 4 daughters in Syracuse, NY after Jerry’s service in the Army.
Rita filled her time with children, volunteering, church duties and gardening, eventually also going to work as an administrative assistant for the public school system in the 70’s.  
Rita and Jerry retired and moved to Florida in 1998 and enjoyed their dream of living on golf courses in Sarasota and Ocala.  
The couple spent the last 7 years in Virginia and NJ living near family.
Rita will be remembered as a faith-filled child of God, a loving wife and mother, a wonderful gardener, a great dancer, a prayer warrior and a best friend to many. Through her long life, she always gave God the Glory.
Rita is predeceased by her dear husband Jerry of nearly 72 years, who also recently passed, her precious parents, Lena Norton Hurder and William B Hurder, her brothers Robert Hurder, Paul Hurder, and John Hurder and her sister Claire Hurder Darling.
Surviving are her children Mary Kathleen Gell of Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Nancy McVay of Bernardsville, NJ, Anne and David Malsbury of Huddleston, Virginia and Mary E (Mimi) Duerr of Baldwinsville NY. Also surviving are her sister Joan Flynn of Sarasota, Fl, many nieces and nephews including “like a son”, Thomas J Hurder of Cicero, NY, four grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren who were blessed to know and love her.
Rita’s heartfelt prayers were and will always be treasured by all.
Donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
A Catholic funeral mass will be held on May 1, 2025 at 1pm in St. Lucy’s Church, 432 Gifford Street, Syracuse 13204.