Rita G. Calkins

September 29, 1937 - February 8, 2022

Rita (Germain) Calkins, 84, of Niskayuna, passed away on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at Albany Medical Center. Born in Worchester, MA on September 29, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Nellie (Cepulis) Germain. Rita lived in Worcester until 1950 when her parents moved to Schenectady. She was a graduate of Draper High School and a graduate of Spencer Business Institute. Rita worked for the Installation and Service Engineering De-partment of General Electric Co. On June 14, 1969, Rita married Roy H. Calkins. Roy passed away in October of 2019. They began their family and Rita was an active volunteer during their son’s school days. Rita was a communicant of St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Sche-nectady. Rita was currently living in the Glen Eddy Senior Living Com-munity and was very active in various Glen Eddy Committees. Rita and her late husband had been generous philanthropists in the Capital Region of New York. They contributed to many or-ganizations in the areas of music, senior care, technology and ed-ucation initiatives. Together, they traveled to attend educational presentations and participated in anything from art to cutting edge technology. Survivors include her son, Charles (the late Jill) of Florissant, MO; and several cousins in Mass. and NY. Funeral services will be held Thursday 10am at Griswold Funeral Home, 1867 State St., Schenectady followed by interment in Ho-ly Cross Cemetery, Rotterdam. The family will receive relatives and friends 9am – 10am prior to the service at the funeral home.