Rita E. Spellman | Teacher, 90

Rita E. O'Leary Spellman, 90, of Drexel Hill, a teacher and the mother of seven, died of complications from cancer Monday, July 26, at Little Flower Manor in Darby.

Mrs. Spellman grew up on a farm in Altoona, Pa. She earned a bachelor's degree from Marywood College in Scranton, where she met Bob Spellman on a blind date.

After World War II, the couple moved to Delaware County when he took a job with a construction firm. In the late 1950s, Mrs. Spellman taught night classes at Chester High School. Later, when all her children were in school, she briefly taught business courses at Archbishop Prendergast High School in Drexel Hill before joining the faculty of Cardinal O'Hara High School in Springfield, Delaware County.

For 18 years she taught business education at O'Hara, and she was dean of discipline for three years in the 1970s. She retired in 1982. In 2003 she was inducted into the Cardinal O'Hara Hall of Fame.

While teaching she found time to help her own children with their homework and with their life crises, a daughter, Mary Casey, said.

Mrs. Spellman enjoyed politics, American history, and Scrabble. She was a Phillies fan.

In addition to her daughter, she is survived by sons Martin, Bob, Denis, and Patrick; daughters Kate Wechsler and Eileen; and 16 grandchildren. Her husband died in 1993.

Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 30, at O'Leary Funeral Home, 640 Springfield Rd., Springfield, and after 9:30 a.m., Saturday, July 31, at St. Andrew the Apostle Church, 3500 School Lane, Drexel Hill, where a Funeral Mass will be said at 10:30.