WRAY, ZITA VALENTYNA – 91, of Northfield, formerly of Collingswood, died on August 15. Zita’s husband, Charles Wray Sr., predeceased her in 1998 after 56 years of marriage. She is survived by her only son, Charles Wray Jr., who lives in Egg Harbor Township with his wife Lindsay and Zita’s grandchildren, Chuck and Meredith.
Zita was the youngest of six children born to Michael and Anna Swiecicki, both of whom emigrated from Poland to the United States at the dawn of the 20th century. She lived in the same Collingswood home she grew up in until the late 1980s, when she moved to Northfield to be closer to her son and grandchildren.
As a young girl, Zita absorbed the business savvy, work ethic and street smarts of her parents and siblings. Collectively, they ran a successful “Pork, Provisions & Poultry” store in the Head House area of Philadelphia.
Voted outstanding athlete of her 1938 graduating class at Collingswood High School, Zita was a three-year standout on the basketball team and led her school to the South Jersey championships in 1937 and ’38. She became a fine field hockey player in the fall, a torrid tennis star in the spring and divided her time between basketball and swimming in the winter months. She served as captain of both the basketball and swim teams, where she competed as a top diver and record-setting backstroke competitor.
Unable to accept full athletic scholarship offers from Westminster College and Beaver College, Zita played basketball for Campbell Soup and RCA Victor in Camden, joining what were then called the “industrial leagues,” competing against the strongest teams on the East Coast. In 1994, she was inducted into the Collingswood High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
Zita later worked as a dress buyer for Strawbridge & Clothier department stores in Philadelphia, making frequent buying trips to the Garment District in New York in the 1940s and ‘50s.
She met the love of her life, Charles, at the Dancette in Westmont. They were later married at Fort Lewis, Washington, on Nov. 7, 1942. Graceful, eye-catching dancers throughout their life together, Zita and Charles made many good friends at country & western dances during the 1990s. Zita later switched to ballroom dancing, where smooth, graceful footwork made her the toast of many a local dance floor.
Charlie Sweetman, whom she met when they were both in their 80s, was Zita’s most recent dance partner, frequent driver and “best friend.”
Zita was very proud of her two grandchildren, who fondly called her “ZZ.” And she was always their biggest fan, attending many a soccer match and crew race to cheer them on.
A service will be held on Monday, August 20, 2012 at 11am at Adams-Perfect Funeral Home, 1650 New Rd, in Northfield. Visitation will be held from 10am to 11am, at the funeral home prior to the service. Burial will be held privately by the family.
In liew of flowers donations may be made to the Friends of the National World War II Memorial 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Suite 304 Washington, D.C. 20003 or to the Alzheimers Association 3 Eves Drive, Marlton, NJ 08053.
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