Rita 'Jose Sybil' Siculan , a former model and quite an amazing woman, took her last walk down the 'fashion runway' of life on March 15, 2024, when she sadly passed away at the age of 98. From the day of her birth until her last, Rita's life was that of a daughter, sister, niece, wife, friend, WW2 survivor, radio interviewee historian, British war bride, showroom model, exotic dancer, animal lover, a Sinatra aficionado, a 'Yankees' baseball fanatic who knew all the stats going back years, a friend to the numerous homestay students next door who came from all over the world, and a dear neighbor and friend. Rita was a woman invited onto the Yankee baseball stadium for 'Old Timer's Night' receiving a shout-out from Michael Kay. She was kissed and serenaded by her favorite Frank Sinatra impersonator - Joe Piscopo.  She was even interviewed twice on 'am970 - Ask the Lawyer' telling her story of surviving the London Blitz of WW2 and coming to this country as a British war bride.

Born 'Jose Sybil' Thorn (aka Rita) on August 27,1925 in London, England to parents John (Jack) and Helen (Hunt) Thorn, Rita's childhood was in part, a loving one of fun and adventure, ballet lessons, back yard gardens and butterflies, and girlish mischief with her adored older sister Hazel Thorn ("Euz") French, who was married to Lawrence ("Larry") French, and who herself lived into her late 90's.   For over 70 years, the two sisters never missed their weekly phone chats, where Rita beguiled her family back in Europe with stories of her new life in Brooklyn, NY, as a newlywed and as a model.

Besides her parents, sister, and her aunt Linda Hunt (Nin), Rita outlived her beloved brother Jack, who sadly passed away from a congenital heart condition at the age of 23. She also outlived the love of her life for 39 years, George Siculan of Wheeling, WV, who was one of four brothers, and who was stationed in England as a medic for the 8th Airforce division during the war. George eventually went on to have a distinguished career with the FBI in NYC. As the story goes, Rita met George at a dance in London, was invited by him to partake in a Thanksgiving dinner held on the American base, went home with platefuls of turkey, pie, and Thanksgiving side dishes of which her family greatly appreciated, and they fell madly in love. George also had quite a romantic side and a talent for poetry. His letters and poems to Rita certainly sealed the deal when it came to marriage. As Rita always used to say, "The uniform didn't hurt either."

After dating a couple of years and after much military bureaucracy and official red tape, not to mention the needed permission from Rita's parents, she was allowed to fly over to the States in May of 1946. Rita remembers the plane ride being quite loud, bumpy, and cold and was greatly relieved when she spotted George near the hanger.  The two were married in June of that same year under what was known then as the 'War Bride Act of 1945.  Originally starting their married life in West Virginia, Rita longed for a life experience more in tune with what she saw in the movies. She also wanted to be a model and felt she couldn't do that in West Virginia.  Thus, George had a decision to make and according to Rita, it was an easy one for him.  They moved to Brooklyn, NY.

To no one's surprise, Rita did become a model two years later after studying fashion and modeling at the famous Barbizon Modeling School on 5th Avenue, NYC. She enjoyed 20 years as a showroom model and even had the pleasure of modeling with Charlie Chaplin's wife Paulette Goddard. She made many friends in the modeling world and remained especially attached to them as the years went on after modeling.  There is no doubt that Rita loved every moment of her professional life as a model in NYC. Most of all, she loved and appreciated her husband George for fully supporting her dreams and aspirations. For those of us who knew Rita and of what she and her husband mutually experienced during the war, it's not hard to understand why George fell in love with Rita and why she loved him. They were devoted to one another. She brought smiles to his heart as he did to hers, and their love affair lasted until his death from cancer in 1985.

Rita was born during what Tom Brokaw coined as 'The Greatest Generation.' World War 2 was a defining moment in Rita's long life that stayed with her until the end. She had emotional scars and memories.  There was pain.  She would sometimes cry even thinking about it.  Her childhood and teen years were highjacked as England prepared for war, and later, as folks all around struggled to survive the 4-month continuous German Blitz of London and the horrific aftermath of destruction to a city and country so much loved. There was also, however, levity and cooperation between air raids. There was lipstick and dancing between rationings. There were jokes about utility-orientated, 'functional yet fashionable' clothes and accessories that Rita very much enjoyed and embraced, especially the gasmask specially designed handbag.

There was a sense of adventure mixed with great sadness in leaving home and family, evacuated to a safer place. There was fear. There was death and heartache right next door with neighbors and friends and within her own extended family. There were terrifying experiences no child should suffer. But with Rita's family and with so many kindly neighbors, there was also much love. As Rita always said, the bombings brought out 'the best' in most people. These memories sustained Rita right up to her passing.

Rita often said that during those difficult years of the war, she learned the meaning of 'sacrifice' and 'looking forward not behind' and 'just getting on with it,' with that stiff British upper lip mentality we Americans don't necessarily totally understand and yet, was something so strong within Rita's soul.  She lived her life like this. Rita was extremely proud of being British and of her countrymen and women during the war. She had no time for 'Conscientious Objectors' or peacekeeping discussions back then. For her, everyone alike - - adults, children, military and civilian, had a role to play in order to survive. The enemy had to be fought.

Rita was also a survivor and for her, WW2 was personal. She nearly lost her own life in two significant bombings of a market and a firehouse across the street from their home. She lost a cousin and neighbor, both 19-year-old Spitfire pilots. The neighbor boy romantic crush who asked her out on what would have been their very first date after months of mutual shyness, was killed in his plane 2 days before their scheduled date.  Rita's parents met her on their front door stoop to give her the news. Rita's own brother-in-law Lawrence French, (Larry), a bomber pilot in the British Royal Airforce (RAF), even piloted Winston Churchill to a couple of secret meetings with the Allies. He survived the war and thankfully went on to become a pilot with British Airways. Rita was very proud of him.

While Rita and George never had children of their own, Rita greatly loved her nephew Dr. Gary French – a professor at Guy's & St. Thomas Medical School, London, specializing in the field of Infection Prevention and Control, and his wife PeiJun Wu, PhD, originally from Shanghai, and his children David and Nicola French, and their children. In her later years, Rita was delighted in being able to Facetime, Zoom or send e-Cards for the holidays. She looked forward to every call and letter and proudly displayed every postcard and photo of a new great-niece, nephew or pet. We neighbors were often treated to the latest laminated postcards made personally for Rita by her mother's dear friend's son and his wife, Nick and Cate, who always kept up with her over the years, especially in the end, much to our appreciation. Rita delighted in showing us the photos and videos of their newest dog and writing about all of the crazy dog-chewing escapades. Every postcard got taped to the refrigerator door.

Rita had many loves.  She loved BLT's and Brie cheese. She loved black pant leggings and black eyeliner.  She loved stuffed animals and going out for coffee at the diner.  She loved dancing, especially flamenco dancing, and the beauty, skill and craft of Belly Dancing, which Rita was quite good at herself. She also loved Dancing with the Stars (DWTS).  Every year Rita would help organize a Dancing with the Stars party we hosted. She also attended the Spanish Flamenco Festival at City Center every year. Last year, when Rita cancelled out on attending a flamenco performance for that very day where pre-purchased tickets were involved, we knew a corner had turned regarding Rita's overall physical capabilities and energy. With that, we played Flamenco YouTube videos instead. And with DWTS?  Well, she loved judges Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough. She hated the chosen music for many of the dances, especially the Tango. We boycotted together when DWTS went Disney and delighted in critiquing the dance dresses.

Rita is now reunited and dancing in the heavens with her husband George and all her family and friends who proceeded her in death.  Thank you, Rita, for the gift of knowing you. You were a unique flower in a field of flowers and butterflies, and we will always love you.

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Burial of Cremated Remains

Tuesday (4/9) 12 Noon

Cemetery

Pinelawn Memorial Park
2030 Wellwood Avenue
Farmingdale, NY 11735