Gates: September 9, 2014 at age 97. Predeceased by her husband Gene, sister Edna Masters and brother Tom Cassano. Rita is survived by her niece Elaine Michael, nephew Dennis Masters and long time friend Kathy DiPaolo.
Friends may attend Her Memorial Service at White Haven Memorial Park (Creation Chapel) on Friday, September 12th at 12:00 NOON.
In lieu of flowers donations to Lollypop Farm Humane Society would be appreciated.
Rochester Cremation, 4044 W. Henrietta Road, Rochester NY 14623, 359-2300, RochesterCremation.com.
Dear Aunt Rita,
We will miss you dearly especially our afternoon chats learning about how you, mom and uncle Tom had fun growing up together. Thank you for allowing our family to be a part of your life these past few years. May you finally find the peace and happiness you so long looked for when you finally meet up again with the rest of our family. God Bless you and thank you for all that you have given to us.
Love always,
Dennis and Sue
Dear Aunt Rita,
You are truly missed and the times we spent together discussing the early days are forever within me. Thank you for those memories.
Love,
Dennis
I concur with Dennis and Scott that aoddctiin is a chronic condition. Assuming I worked at a public treatment center there are several things I would do to further the work of aligning this belief to what is actually practiced in our profession. Direct work with clients and families would include the education piece about how aoddctiin is like having cancer, not like having a really bad case of the measles. Framing the issue of chronic vs. acute this way is crucial to helping all involved take the long view of success. Group work with a mixed-stage set of clients over an extended number of sessions as in Weegmann and English, skyped or cell phone based assertive continuing care, in-person quarterly RMC’s, would all be woven into my practice (assuming my agency was supportive). Much systemic work is needed to spread this vital reframing of aoddctiin as a chronic condition. From an education standpoint, this concept and practice is not a hard shift to sell, but many of these shifts will cost money. When it comes down to dollars that is a different story. From all levels within the agency, to community, state and federal funding sources both education and advocacy is necessary. I am ready to sign up for the sustained push that is required for progress to be made. Taking these sytemic changes even further into the very critical need for overall change in our nation’s aoddctiin treatment and aftercare structure. Toward that end I agree with McClellan and Meyers and say increases in funding support are needed to implement best practices in treating adults, adolescents, those who are dually diagnosed and incarcerated.