Rita E. Giancola

Rita Ellen (Lemieux) Giancola, 91, owner of the “Christmas House” on Lexington Street in New Britain, passed away Monday, Aug.15, 2016 peacefully at home surrounded by Christmas lights and family. Her life story is one of extraordinary determination and perseverance.

Born in Graniteville, Vermont; she was one of nine children of Antoinette Fournier and Alidor Lemieux. Rita is survived by Norman and Martha, and predeceased by Conrad, Roger, Clem, Raymond, Madeline, and Judy. When Rita was 13, her mother died during child-birth, leaving Rita and her sister Madeline to take care of the family.   Within a year, the family dispersed and Rita found herself homeless, struggling on her own to survive.  Rita worked any job she could find—nanny, factory-worker, and even a stint at the carnival.   At one point, she worked two factory jobs; one in Massachusetts during the day, then she’d take a bus to work the night shift in New Hampshire.   Through all of this hardship, Rita was determined to achieve an education, attending seven different high schools en route to earning her high school diploma.  These hard times taught Rita how to “save a penny and put it towards your mortgage!”

While working at factories in Lawrence, MA, she met her future husband Alfred Luigi Giancola.  The story of their love is exemplary of the war generation; spending many years apart and communicating through love letters.  Their marriage survived two wars, several deployments, and five “pain in the a**” children: Janice, Michael, Debra, Dino, and Kevin.

In 1955, Rita began her career in ballroom dancing, working as a receptionist in the Arthur Murray Studio.  This was a catalyst that led her to teach ballroom dance at her home studio on Lexington Street, which she continued to do for the rest of her life—61 years of the foxtrot, cha-cha, rhumba, tango and more.  Through her lessons at home and her monthly dances at the VFW hall in Plainville, Rita influenced hundreds of students, referring to them as “her people.”  They shared in her passion of dance, honoring her gift with their own appreciation dance each year.  She loved her people and considered them family, so much so, she would give them a loving slap on the leg during lessons, exclaiming, “GET IT RIGHT!” This genuine style made her endearing to her students and Rita loved them in return.

Rita is most famous for creating “The Christmas House”, a spectacle of lights and decorations at her New Britain home that dazzled local residents and out-of-state visitors for over 40-years.  What started as a family tradition of home Christmas décor exploded into a display that had people literally peeking into the windows to get a better look at the ever-growing display.  This led to an open house (started in 1978), which welcomed visitors to tour her Winter Wonderland, the price of admission being non-perishable goods that were donated to local charities and churches.  Throughout these 38 years of charity she gained much recognition and honor; from the Mayor of New Britain, Salvation Army, New Britain Police Department, and numerous publications and newspapers (including the New York Times).  The Christmas House also propelled a family tradition like no other. Family members from near and far gathered at the house in the early morning hours of Christmas to eat her famous pasta sauce, open presents and dance until 4 o’clock in the morning; a scene in which Rita was often the last person standing while everyone else succumbed to fatigue.  After all, she referred to the family as “a bunch of little babies”. These “babies” include 17 Grandchildren, 10 Great-Grandchildren, one Great-Great Grandchild, and many nieces and nephews.

Every famous phrase and piece of wisdom came from a special place in her heart. It was all for the love of her family. Family was and is the most important thing in Rita’s life. No matter how far apart, no matter how long it’s been, family is family. You forget the past and just love each other. This amazing and generous woman embodied the Greatest Generations’ ideals of family solidarity, hard work and determination, instructing people in her life to, “get off your a** and DO IT!”  If you are ever feeling down remember Rita’s most famous words, “If you are sad or depressed, don’t take pills, just go dancing!”  Keep on dancing!

Funeral services will be held on Friday at 10 am at Berlin Congregational Church, 878 Worthington Ridge, Berlin.  Burial will be in the State Veterans Cemetery, Middletown.  Calling hours are Thursday from 5-9 PM at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, 411 So. Main St., New Britain.  Those who wish may send flowers or make memorial donations to the Salvation Army, 78 Franklin Sq., New Britain, CT 06051.