Rita Lafferty Brackin

Rita Lafferty Brackin passed away Monday, February 6th 2017 at Maris Grove Retirement Community in Glen Mills, PA at the age of 94. She was formerly of Kelton, PA and Pinecrest, Wilmington, DE.

Born on May 2nd 1922 in Kaolin, PA, Rita was the daughter of the late Anna Dillon Lafferty and Francis A. Lafferty. She was orphaned at an early age and she and her seven siblings were raised by her aunt and uncle, Sarah Lafferty Duncan and Harry Duncan, and Uncle Michael Lafferty. She attended St. Patrick’s School and Kennett Consolidated High School, class of 1940, where she was captain of the girls’ swim team all four years. Rita married Harold Pyle “Pete” Brackin of Landenberg, PA in January 1941. Together with her husband, Rita owned and operated a mushroom business for twenty-five years in Kelton, PA. Harold died in 1988. She worked for Trimark of Brandywine for a short time before starting her own business, Brackin Rentals. Her hobbies were antique collecting, dancing, singing, traveling, and all things Irish. She was a member of the Irish Culture Club and a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Hockessin, DE, where she served as a Eucharistic Minister. She was a past president and the last surviving charter member of the Auxiliary to the Bailey-Brennan-Chandler VFW Post #5892 of Hockessin, DE, inaugurated May 16th 1948.

She is survived by six children, Mary Ann Bassett (Edward) of Chadds Ford, PA, Elizabeth L. Macbeth (J. Ross) of Sebring, FL, Theresa M. Heckert (James) of East Waterford, PA, Christine R. Mullen of Chesapeake City, MD, Joseph L. Brackin of West Grove, PA, and Michael P. Brackin of Lincoln University, PA. She is also survived by nineteen grandchildren, thirty-three great grandchildren, and nine great great grandchildren. She is also survived by a brother, Edward Lafferty (Ruth) of Kaolin, PA. Besides her husband Rita was predeceased by two sons, Harold P. Brackin, Jr. and Lawrence E. Brackin, and two grandsons, Thomas P. Brackin and Matthew P. Brackin. She was also predeceased by three sisters, Mary Gregg, Hannah Bristow, Christine Gillis, and three brothers, Francis, Joseph, and Phillip Lafferty.

You are invited to visit with Rita’s family and friends from 11 am to 12:15 pm Friday, February 10th 2017 at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 7200 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE where a  Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 12:30 pm. Interment will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Ashland, DE.

 Service Information