Rita Cosenza Wagar, 86, passed peacefully on Wednesday, August 9th, 2023.

A long time Colts Neck resident, active in the community and a parishioner at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, she was known for her involvement with the Martha Mary Guild and working deals at the infamous St. Mary’s “Attic” sale. Born to Peter & Anna Cosenza of Port Chester, NY, she was very proud of her parents who came to the United States from Italy to build a family, open a renowned NY pastry shop and live the American dream. Some of her fondest memories were working with her father and sister, Alba, at a young age making pastries together.

She graduated with a B.A. from Marymount University, began working and shortly thereafter married the love of her life, James L. Wagar. She was dedicated to her husband and her Catholic faith. She loved Broadway musicals, NYC, camping, home cooking, anything “Disney” themed, “saving” animals (dogs, chickens, ducks, rabbits, hamsters, a goat and even 3 black angus steer!) but, above all, she loved her children and many grandchildren.

She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Alba & Dano Murphy (Bethesda, MD), and her children, Peter and Anne Wagar (Nashville, TN), Alba Flynn (Colts Neck, NJ), Paul Wagar (Colts Neck, NJ) and Anthony & Emily Wagar (Martinsville, NJ) and her grandchildren, Avery Wagar, Paul Curran, Corey Wagar, Christian Wagar, Gina Wagar, James Wagar, Dylan Flynn, Alba Sofia Wagar, M.J. Flynn and Valentina Wagar. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Leone Ugolik (Ellington, CT) and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Most of all, she’ll be remembered fondly as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt. She would do anything for her children and grandchildren. The family takes comfort knowing she’ll finally be in the arms of her husband, James L. Wagar, once again.

Visitation Monday August 14^th, 9:00 – 10:00 AM at the Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 South Holmdel Road, Holmdel, NJ followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 11:00 am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, One Phalanx Road, Colts Neck.  Entombment will be in Holmdel Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Alzheimer’s Disease Research at brightfocus.org/cureAD