Rita Pedano Stango, 89, sang with Lyric Opera Co.

If you couldn't make it to Rita Pedano Stango's South Philadelphia home for a meal, she would come to you.

Many friends and family members can attest to late-night visits from Rita, bearing her famous pizza, cakes or pies, all hot from the oven.

On New Year's Day, she opened her Broad Street home to family and friends so they could watch the Mummers Parade. Of course, she also prepared and served a full Italian buffet for her guests.

Keeping people happy with hot food was one of Rita's passions. The other was the Roman Catholic faith, to which she devoted her time, her energy and her many talents for more than 70 years.

Rita Stango, a singer who performed with the Philadelphia Lyric Opera Co. in many local productions, and who lent her voice to her church and a number of charitable functions, died Thursday. She was 89 and was living in Marlton, N.J., but had lived most of her life in South Philadelphia.

After graduating from the Philadelphia High School for Girls, she worked as a records librarian for the old Misericordia Hospital while studying voice with various local teachers.

With the Lyric Opera Co., she performed as the American wife in "Madame Butterfly" at the Academy of Music and also performed a leading role in "Tosca."

She was a lifelong member of Epiphany of Our Lord Church, 11th and Jackson streets, where she sang in the choir and was choir director for 30 years.

She was born in Philadelphia to Vincent Pedano and the former Antonia Canuso. In 1956, she married Francis T. Stango, and for a number of years, operated a children's boutique on Broad Street.

Among her charitable activities, she sang for the Alliance of Catholic Women at Convention Hall. She chaired the Don Guanella dinner dance to raise funds for mentally handicapped boys in Don Guanella Village in Italy on behalf of American Relief for Italy.

She was also a fundraiser for Epiphany of Our Lord Women's Club.

Rita moved to South Jersey in 1990, after fire destroyed her South Philadelphia home. She continued to travel back to her roots to attend church functions and to visit friends.

Her husband died in 1996. She is survived by two daughters, LuAnn Canuso, a contract specialist with the Government Services Administration, and Regina Stango Kelbon, a lawyer with Blank Rome LLP; a brother, Dr. Nicholas Pedano, retired surgeon; and four grandchildren. She was predeceased by another brother, Vincent Pedano.

Services: Funeral Mass 11 a.m. today at Epiphany of Our Lord Church, 11th and Jackson streets. Friends may call at 9:30 a.m. at the Leonetti-O'Leary Funeral Home, Broad and Wolf streets. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon.

Donations may be made to Epiphany of Our Lord Church, 11th and Jackson streets, Philadelphia 19148.