Rita P Springette

Flowers can be purchased from Gary Flower Shop in St Kitts +18694656876

The family thanks everyone for every act of kindness shown to them at this time. Final services and burial will take place in St Kitts and Nevis.
 

It is with deep sorrow and profound love that we announce the passing of Rita Springette, a beloved mother, sister, pioneer, and pillar of the Kittitian and Nevisian community. Rita was born on August 12, 1944, in Fig Tree, Sandy Point, Saint Kitts, to the late John Richards and Letitica Duncan. She peacefully transitioned on December 12, 2025, in New Jersey, surrounded by her loving family.

A trailblazer in every sense, Rita was one of the first women police officers in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, proudly serving during a pivotal moment in history, including the time of the Anguillian secession movement. Her courage, discipline, and grace during such a formative era reflected her lifelong commitment to service and strength.

After migrating to the United States in 1970, she became a pivotal force in the St. Kitts and Nevis diaspora, especially in New York, where she helped bring visibility, pride, and celebration of her homeland — through business, culture, and music. She was a longtime promoter of the Small Axe Band from the late 1990s to the mid 2000's, using music as a way to unify and uplift the Caribbean spirit abroad.

Rita was more than a community leader — she was a humble, inspiring, and radiant light. Known for her genuine heart, she opened her home and arms to anyone in need. Her love was unshakable, her presence grounding, and her spirit deeply rooted in faith, family, and culture. She was a giant of a woman in her quiet strength, bold pride, and unwavering compassion — not only for her family, but for her people and her country.

She was a proud Kittitian woman — down-to-earth, strong, and full of class and grace. Her legacy as a trailblazer will continue to inspire generations, reminding us all of the power of humility, love, and cultural pride.

She is survived by her beloved children: Wingrove Browne, Marsha Browne, Rhonda Browne, and Patrice Springette, all of whom reside in New Jersey. Siblings: Ruffus Richards (deceased), Dacus Richards (England), Kenneth Richards (Sandy Point), Estelle Paul-Moseley (Barbados), Milton Richards of New York, Natalie Laws-Richards of New Jersey,  Ercilyn Jeffers (deceased), and Pearline Jeffers (Boston), along with five grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family, and an international community of friends and loved ones.

To know Rita was to love her, and her memory will forever shine as a beacon of resilience, kindness, and unwavering pride in her roots.