Rita (née Clifton) Force Tolerico
January 1, 1923 - April 18, 2018
95
Lifelong Volunteer
Rita Marie Clifton was born January 1, 1923 to Mary B. Clifton and William A. Clifton in Harrison, New Jersey where she and her older sister Helen Claire attended Holy Cross School. The Clifton family moved from Harrison to a new home in Florham Park, New Jersey when Rita was entering 7th grade. She continued her elementary education at St. Vincent's School and went on to graduate from Madison High School in 1942.
Upon graduation and during WWII she worked at Worthington Pump in Harrison,N.J. After the war she met her future husband, John Force at "The Timbers" now Rods in Convent Station. Within a year they were married on February 8, 1947 at Saint Vincent Martyr Church. Their only daughter, Susan Lee Force was born one year later.
The Force family moved to Madison in the 1950s where Rita began her lifelong passion for volunteering. She began as the perennial class mother and brownie/Girl Scout leader and worked with veterans at Graystone Park State Hospital. She then went on to volunteer at Morristown Memorial Hospital and Morris County Cerebral Palsy Center.
After her husband John Force's passing in 1973, she moved to begin a new life in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey . There she met and married , James Tolerico, her loving husband of 40 years. She and Jim made their home in Brick, N.J. and she continued her volunteer work at both Point Pleasant and Brick Hospital well into her late 80s. Besides her volunteer work and great love for her family and extended family, Rita had a flair for fashion that she put to work as the manager of Lena Rossi's. Many the bride and bridal party member have memories of her help with selecting just the right outfit for their special day !
Recently, Rita was cared for by the wonderful, caring staff at Preferred Care at Wall until her peaceful death on Wednesday, April 18, 2018.
She was predeceased by her parents, Mary B. Clifton and William A. Clifton, her sister Helen Claire Lake and her husband of 25 years, John C. Force.
Rita is survived by her husband of 40 years, James Tolerico, her daughter Susan
(Née Force) and her husband Carl Sposato, Jan and wife Kathy Taler, Fern and husband Ron Helms, grand-daughter Hiver(née Sposato) and her husband Brent McKnight, Nathan and wife Alyssa Taler, Jennifer and her husband Chris Cook, Danae and Kyle Towne. She was blessed with four great-grand children Hadley McKnight, Grant McKnight, Anderson Cook and Gwendolyn Taler. She was also greatly loved by her nephew Joseph Tomlinson and his daughters Jeannie and Lorrie.
Please no flowers. If you would like, make a donation to your favorite charity.

Gathering with family 9:30 a.m.
Church vestibule
Prior to mass of Christian Burial 10:00 a.m
Saint Vincent Martyr Church
26 Green Village Road
Madison, N.J. 07840.