Rita Filowitz-Schneider, 61, of Jacksonville, FL passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on October 31, 2021, after a courageous and long-standing battle with kidney failure which she endured for more than three decades.

Rita was born on February 6, 1960, in New York, NY to the late Henry and Sharon (Pennoyer) Rodriguez. In 1978 she graduated from St. Mary's High School and worked as an Administrative Assistant as well as a bookkeeper for many years before her health began to decline at an early age. She happily married Christian Schneider in 2002 and celebrated 19 years of marriage with her partner in life until the time of her death.

Rita is survived by her husband and her loving daughter, Ilyse Filowitz, 32

Family and friends were the light of Rita's life, particularly her one-and-only daughter, who was fortunate enough to be able to donate her a kidney to extend her life an additional 5 years. Despite her significant health issues, Rita was resilient. She remained a free spirit throughout her life and lived with an abundance of love, strength, and positivity until her final breath.

When not spending quality time with her family and friends, Rita also enjoyed reading, gardening, traveling, acting with a local theatre group, playing the guitar, and she could beat anyone in a game of jeopardy. She also represented Team Philadelphia in the U.S. Transplant Olympic Games, in which she placed third in the 5k race.

A public visitation will be held on Saturday, November 13, 2021, at Morello Funeral Home, Inc. located at 3720 Nicholas St., Easton, PA from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. followed by a funeral service beginning at noon at the funeral home. Entombment will take place at Northampton Memorial Shrine in Easton. It is Rita's wish and request that family and friends wear the color green to her service, as she believed green is the color of life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Rita's memory to the National Kidney Foundation of the Del Valley: 111 S. Independence Mall E. Suite 411, The Philadelphia Bourse Bld. Philadelphia, PA 19106. Online condolences may be shared at www.morellofuneralhome.com .