Rita Joan Taglianetti Wood

January 12, 1921 - September 2, 2025.

Rita Joan Taglianetti Wood was blessed with a long life. She came from a large family with 11 siblings, who immigrated to the US, Philadelphia PA, in 1908 from the town of Campagna in the Province of Salerno in Italy.  Born toward the end of the line, she was described as a spitfire, being feisty and energetic. She had many dreams of doing something adventurous in her life beyond the confines of her home, but she got a lot of kickback from her family. During WWII she wanted to be a WAC but settled for being in the Signal Corps/Lend-Lease Program. With fiery red hair and a petite trim figure, Rita was good looking and had several suitors. Rita married William Lee Wood after WWII and had 3 children. She divorced at age 52 and then became an office administrator at a securities printing office until she retired at 70. At 73, she moved to Tarpon Springs, FL to live near her sisters and at 78 moved to Huntington Beach, CA to be near her daughter Diane and her husband Rob Greenstein. Rita was a great dancer, especially swing dancing, which she participated in until she was 86. Rita drove her car everywhere until she was 93 and then became a strong walker. With the passing of Diane, and at the age of 100, she moved to Lakewood, WA to live with her second daughter Cynthia (Cindi) and husband Gary Barton. Once there, Rita helped keep the Barton kitchen clean and well organized. She loved playing word games on her iPad and taking care of flowers. Rita also was athletic, regularly playing catch and throwing a ball overhand with both speed and accuracy. Rita was a great cook, kind, charming, well-spoken, and welcoming to everyone. With a sharp mind, she was very proud to vote in the 2024 election for the first woman to be nominated for President.

Rita was preceded in death by her father, Umberto Taglianetti, and mother, Gelsomina De Simone, her brothers Joseph, Nicolas, Armando, and Umberto Taglianetti, and her sisters Vita Bonner, Concetta (Jean) Santoliquito, Lena Makarczik, Philomena Duffy, Marie Taglianetti, and her twin sister Alberta Taglianetti.  She also was preceded in death by her daughter Diane Greenstein Wood and grandson Andrew Barton. She is survived by her son William Lee Wood and his wife Gail Wood, daughter Cynthia Wood Barton and her husband Gary Barton, Rob Greenstein, her grandchildren Jeffrey and Stephanie Wood, and Phillip Barton and his wife Erin Sanders, and her great grandson Miles Johannes Barton who was born just a few weeks after her death.

Rita was cremated on September 11 through the Neptune Society at the Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home in Seattle, WA and her remains will be buried in the Wood-Barton family plot at New Tacoma Cemetery in University Place, WA. Burial with a service at the graveside is planned for May 2026. A luncheon will follow at the Barton's home.  Cards should be sent to the Barton's home at 8922 Lake Steilacoom Pt Rd SW; Lakewood WA 98498.