Rita M. Selena, 84, a resident of Wyoming, passed into eternal life early Friday morning, August 07, 2026, at Embassy of East Mountain Nursing Center, Wilkes-Barre, where she was a guest for a short time.

Her beloved husband of 57 years was the late John J. Selena Jr. who passed away on January 27, 2024.

Born on August 26, 1941, in Wilkes-Barre, Rita was one of four children born to the late Chester Zima and Agnes Ulatowski Zima.

Raised in Wilkes-Barre, Rita was a proud member of the 1959 graduating class of the former Marymount High School, Wilkes-Barre, enjoying the many reunions she shared with her classmates over the years.

Furthering her education at the former Mercy Hospital School of Nursing, Wilkes-Barre, she received her certification to practice as a Registered Nurse in 1962, beginning her nursing career at the former Mercy Hospital, and later moving on to a long career with the Visiting Nurses Association (VNA), Kingston, from where she retired.

A faithful Catholic, Rita was a member of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Swoyersville, and was a past member of the former Saint Joseph’s Church, Wyoming, and its choir. Additionally, while raising her children she was actively involved with the band-parents and football-parents associations at Wyoming Area High School.

Sharing a mutual love for travel with her husband, John, they visited various destinations across the world and camped across the United States in their RV. Following the tragic death of their son, Joseph, in a house fire at Bloomsburg University, Rita took up cross-stitching while her husband took up scroll saw woodworking and they created countless works of art for family and friends as well as selling many of their creations at craft shows.

Having a zest for life and genuine openness, Rita was always excited to try new things. It took little convincing to get her to agree to ride a roller coaster, or go to see a live show or concert, such as the Grateful Dead, which she attended with her son, Christopher, or Meat Loaf, which she attended with her daughter, Sharon. In her earlier years, she loved gardening around her home and in more recent years, used innovative cross stitch techniques and tried a lot of new recipes as well as editing old family recipes.

With family being the center of her life, Rita will be remembered most for the love and devotion she showered upon her husband, children, and grandchildren, and she leaves behind a legacy that will forever be cherished by her loved ones.

In addition to her parents, Chester and Agnes Zima, and her husband, John, Rita was preceded in death by her son, Joseph Selena, who passed away on October 21, 1994; and her brother, Joseph Zima.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Sharon Hollister and her husband, Ken, West Wyoming; and Christopher Selena, Stroudsburg; her five grandchildren, Jessica Hollister, Nicole Hollister, Benjamin Hollister, Olivia Selena, and Gabriel Selena; her brother, John “Jack” Zima, Upper Darby; her sister, Jane Davis, Plymouth; as well as her numerous nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Rita’s services which will begin with viewing on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Wroblewski Funeral Home, Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort, and continue there on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 10:00 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:30 AM in Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 116 Hughes Street, Swoyersville, with the Reverend Father John J. Chmil, her Pastor, officiating.

Interment with the Rite of Committal will follow in Mount Olivet Roman Catholic Cemetery, Carverton section of Kingston Township.

To share a memory of Rita or message of condolence with her family, you may visit the funeral home website, www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com, or Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Rita’s memory to Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 116 Hughes Street, Swoyersville, Pennsylvania 18704, or to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 Saint Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105 – www.stjude.org/donate.

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