Rita C. Destra, (nee Leonetti) age 91, of South Philadelphia passed away peacefully on March 8, 2016 at Vitas Hospice in Methodist Hospital. She was the beloved wife of the late Joseph L Destra and loving mother of Joann (Anthony) Imperial, Mary Rose Taft, and the late Joseph J. Destra; 5 grandchildren Anthony (Claudine), Matthew (Dorothy), Lauren (Nicholas), Alexis, and Victoria; 6 great grandchildren Anthony, Nicholas, Brooke, Isabella, Grace, and Giselle; two sisters Rose Siegrist and Lannie Mondello; one sister-in-law Mena Leonetti.

Mrs. Destra worked for 38 years as a pre-school teacher at Franklin Day Nursery in Philadelphia, PA.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing Friday morning from 9:00-10:00 AM in Epiphany of Our Lord Church 11th and Jackson Streets Philadelphia, PA. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM in church. Interment will follow in S.S. Peter and Paul Cemetery Broomall,PA.