Rita Barrett

Rita Marie Barrett (nee Guarini), age 71, of Exton, PA and formerly Glen Mills, PA, passed away peacefully  on November 9, 2021 after celebrating an early Christmas with her family. She was a graduate of Archbishop Prendergast High School. Rita grew up spending time in Wildwood Crest, NJ  where her father built a home for the family to enjoy summers at the shore. She was very involved in the Wildwood Gables Yacht Club and loved sailing and trick waterskiing. Rita also had a passion for horses. She was an avid rider for many years and, as a parent, was very involved with the United States Pony Club for decades. She very much enjoyed her role as  yearbook publisher, which translated into her later writing and publishing a book called “The  Adventures on Granny’s Fun-ee Farm” about her experience on her little farm in Glen Mills. Rita did countless fundraisers and traveled the East Coast with her children for horse competitions over the years. She was also very active as a parent for the Girl Scouts of America and was a volunteer in several therapy dog programs.

Rita battled Multiple Sclerosis for over 30 years and ultimately gave the “Gift of Hope”, donating her brain and spinal cord for MS research through UCLA. She wanted a large part of her legacy to be contributing towards the discovery of a cure to help others currently battling MS or those who would receive a diagnosis in the future. Rita was a regular at the Annual  Multiple Sclerosis Society MS Walks in West Chester, East Goshen, and Ridley Creek.

Rita was mother to Marie Miller (Ken) of Ft Meade, MD; Nancy Rehm (Dusty) of Georgetown,  TX; and Thomas Joseph “Joe” Barrett (Melissa) of Aston, PA. Loving daughter of the late Dr. Pasquale B. Guarini and late Rita M. (nee Marwood) Guarini; sister of Pat Guarini (Patricia),  Robert Guarini, Vincent Guarini (the late Linda Kachmar), the late Richard Guarini (Sharon), and  Anita Reilly (David).

Rita is survived by grandchildren Reid Eberhart, Ryan Miller, Bailey Eberhart, Camryn Eberhart,  Ashley Miller, and three step-grandchildren.

Rita is preceded in death by many of her beloved horses and also black labs Buppy, Pepper, and Lexy. She is survived by her senior companion black lab, Hope.

Rita was always most content outdoors, so relatives and friends are invited to her outdoor memorial, Rite of Burial, and interment service at Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon, PA on Rita’s  birthday, December 30, 2021 at 11am. Please meet at the cemetery office to process to the  service.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions in her name to one of two options:

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society Delaware Valley Chapter

https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Chapters/PAE/Donate

or

A direct-funded donation option to provide financial support directly to individuals currently battling MS, who are now in the stages of the disease that Rita was in years ago. gofundme.com/f/rita-barrett-legacy-fund