Rita is the second oldest of five children born to Nellie and Val Stamp, in St. Vincent’s, Newfoundland. She graduated from St. Anne’s School in the mid 1960’s, and attended The College of The North Atlantic (formerly known as College of Trades and Technology). She was born and raised as a Roman Catholic and practised her faith accordingly. Her parents were frugal and humble folks, and at times, struggled in their efforts to raise their children under the many adversities they faced. There were a lot of inadequacies in her early childhood and not having even the basic essentials of life (heat, running water, or electricity).

In 1969, Rita left her hometown in Newfoundland and flew to the fast paced, city life style and bright neon lights of Toronto in search of a brighter future, where she married her husband and raised their family (daughter now twenty-nine, and son now twenty-four) together.When Rita is not busy with all the responsibilities attached to being a working wife and mother, or attending to the multitude of house chores, she manages to squeeze some time and devote to her other interests, such as computer, sewing, knitting, quilting, croqueting, calligraphy, gardening, dried flower arrangements, music, and travelling. Rita also enjoys a challenge and sees it as an opportunity to learn something new and broaden her horizons. Another area that piques her interest is home decorating, as well as home renovations, in which she has completed many major projects.

Rita is an intelligent, energetic, caring and warm individual, who shows compassion and empathy towards others. Her positive attitude and witty sense of humour, coupled with her arsenal of metaphors and favourite quotes from yesteryear, act as her coping mechanisms and help her find the silver lining in the clouds. She thanks God for her ever renewing amounts of courage, strength, and abundance of energy and says she uses it frugally and fruitfully. Rita says, "Writing my life story has been quite a huge accomplishment for me, and it has given me the ability to think more positively and live life from an entirely new perspective. It has been nothing short of a catharsis for me".