Balena, Rita

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Rita Balena Sasso on Thursday, July 16th 2026 at the Teresa Dellar Palliative Care Residence just months before her 80th birthday.

A daughter of the late Pasquale & Barbara Balena, she was born November 9th 1946 in the city of Montreal, where she grew up on Shamrock Street with her late brother Louis and her surviving sisters Diana and Amelia.

At the young age 10 years old, she met someone who would change her life, build a lifetime friendship and show her endless love for years to follow. She married her husband and true love Ciro, in June 1969. Together, the newly married couple moved to Montreal’ West Island where she raised her beloved sons, Vince and Tony. She leaves behind her cherished daughter-in-laws Lilia and Natalie. She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren Adara, Alexandria, Angelina, Jadzia, and Mason as well as her great grandchildren Ophelia, Atlas and Atticus.

Rita along with her brother opened one of Montreal’s first video stores in the early 1980’s, and she later with Ciro started a small packaging company in Lachine. For more than 2 decades she worked as the company’s accountant and bookkeeper. Rita loved to cook for her family every weekend as she hosted many holidays, birthdays and get togethers. Rita was the original ‘hostess with the mostess’. She enjoyed weekends at their chalet in Rawdon and continued to welcome family and friends every chance she could.

She was adored and will be greatly missed by all her loving nieces and nephews as she had a special place in her heart for them all. She was everyone’s favorite person to see, to call, and you always felt fortunate to hear her life stories. Near or far, Rita always stayed connected with those she loved and important to her.

The family will receive family and friends at Voluntas Funeral Home,  4695 boul. St-Jean, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Qc H9H 2A7, on Monday August 3^rd from 2:00 pm-5:00 pm, then 7:00pm to 9:00 pm.

The funeral service will be held on Tuesday August 4^th, 1:00 pm, at St. Thomas of Becket Church,  4320 Saint-Anne St, Pierrefonds, Quebec H9H 4Y7  thence to Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery. 

Instead of flowers, you may express your sympathies by donating to the Teresa Dellar Palliative Care Center in Rita Balena’s memory. 

https://residencesoinspalliatifs.ca/en/