Rita Anderson

Rita Anderson, 89, of Bridge City, passed away surrounded by loved ones on August 22, 2022, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont.

Funeral services will be 3:00 p.m., Saturday, August 27, 2022, at First Baptist Church in Bridge City. Officiating will be Reverend Keith Royal. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Saturday, at First Baptist Church in Bridge City.

Rita was born in Malden, Massachusetts, on June 8, 1933, she was the daughter of Italian immigrants Giorgio Savarino and Lena Maria Savarino. As a young girl living in Massachusetts, Rita was taught to sew by her sister Eleanor. She got a job in Boston putting the strip of lining and collars on school jackets and making boy pants with zippers on them. Her other jobs included a commercial cleaner ironing the collars and cuffs on dress shirts, a rug shop designing flowers on rugs, and just before leaving home she worked as a stitcher in Boston. She was never afraid of hard work and always made sure she had a job. Rita moved to Texas after being introduced to her husband, George. They were introduced to each other by her brother, AJ, who married George’s sister. They married and had four beautiful children, Mark, Jeff, Rebel, and Goober. Her and George were heavily involved in the Bridge City community, helping start the Bridge City Little League where her kids, and later grandkids and great grandkids, would play baseball. Rita was actively involved in her church, First Baptist Bridge City. She became a member November 1, 1992. She loved going to her Sunday school class every Sunday morning and singing hymns from the second-row pew. Rita worked for a number of years at Kroger in Orange where she made many lifelong friends. Rita loved spending time with her family and her grandchildren and great grandchildren. They were the light of her life. She was so proud of each of them and made sure to attend whatever activity in which they were involved. When she was told that she was going to be a great grandma for the first time, her response was “I’m already a “GREAT” grandma”, and that she was. She was Gammie to everyone that met her and she loved and welcomed everyone she met. “Goodbye I love you’s” were always met with “I love you more” from her and it’s hard to imagine her loving us more than the enormous love we all had for her. She will be missed by all, but we know she is in the arms of Jesus and able to see His wonderful face.

She is preceded in death by her loving husband, George Anderson, Jr.; parents, Giorgio and Lena Savarino; siblings, Eleanor Fermano, Anthony Bernadini, Beatrice Barrett, Louis Savarino, Jean Bonito, Vincent Savarino, and Dorothy Cannata.

She is survived by her children, Mark Anderson and wife, Kelli, Jeff Anderson and wife, Leslie, Rebel Prestwood and husband, Jim, George “Goober” Anderson III and wife, Lucy; grandchildren, Chelsea Jones (Eric), Karli Anderson (Colton), Whitney Anderson (James), Balie Viator (Madison), Alexis Mayfield (Regan), Colbie Prestwood (Taylor), Caleb Anderson (Carly), Cameron Anderson (Amelia), Keegan Anderson (Hallie), Erin Cooper (Seth), Lauren Adams (Clayton); great grandchildren, Andi Kate Jones, Grayson Jones, Hayes Cooper, Cort Cooper, Olivia Phillips, Anderson Phillips, Drake Mills, Paxton Prestwood, Sumner Prestwood, Harper Mayfield, and Ellie Jo Anderson; sister, Anna Travis and husband, Jack of Nashua, NH; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Serving as pallbearers will be Caleb Anderson, Cameron Anderson, Colbie Prestwood, Keegan Anderson, Regan Mayfield, and Eric Jones. Honorary pallbearer is Drake Mills.

Memorial contributions can be made to First Baptist Church in Bridge City in honor of Rita.