ILION-HERKIMER - Rita (Seymour) Korniat, age 89, of Pine Ave., Herkimer, formerly of Ilion, passed away on Friday, February 7, 2014, at St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Utica, with her family by her side. Rita was born in Ilion, New York, on January 24, 1925, the daughter of Margaret Kenefick and William J. Seymour. She attended the Annunciation School and Ilion High School. She was a life-long member of the Annunciation Church of Ilion. In 1946, Rita married Howard F. Mead Jr., the father of her children. In 1971, Rita married John Korniat, with whom she shared some of the happiest years of her life. They lived in the Herkimer home that John built and it became the social hub for family and friends. John died in 1989. Rita worked in the payroll department at Univac in Ilion and Utica for 25 years. In addition to working full time, Rita had the even tougher job of being a single mom in the 1950's and 60's from the time her youngest child was still an infant. Rita successfully raised three children on her own, justifiably proud of her independence and her ability to provide for them. Rita knew how to stretch a dollar and her children were always dressed just so for every occasion, as was she. Rita had a keen fashion sense and loved to dance, never passing up an invitation, especially to jitterbug. Rita and John were accomplished polka dancers. She enjoyed time together with her siblings and family, and was a fierce competitor when playing the card game Pitch, no matter who the opponent. She was a gracious hostess, with a ready invitation to join her in a "five o'clock highball". Rita had a special passion for the New York Yankees, and her sitting room was bedecked with Yankee memorabilia. One of Rita's proudest moments was when she secured through the Veterans Administration a headstone in memory of her brother, Joe, who was killed in combat on Guadacanal on November 1, 1942, and had it placed in the Veterans area at Ilion's Armory Hill Cemetery on November 1, 2000. But, mostly, she will be remembered for her great love of her children and grandchildren, her support of them in the difficult periods of their lives, and her wisdom and advice to help them along the way. She will be missed dearly. Rita is survived by her daughter, Cindy Mead, of Herkimer; her son, Clifford Mead and his wife, Mary, of Corvallis, Oregon; her son, Larry Mead and his wife, Denise, of Old Orchard Beach, Maine; her grandchildren, Tracy and Ian Mead, Dan Gilbert and Ken Dicob; her step-grandchildren, Jeffrey and Michael O'Hara, Caitlin, Christopher and Seth Albert; her great-grandchild, Jonathan Gilbert; her brother, Al Seymour and his wife, Pat; sister-in-law, Ella Seymour; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her sister, Margaret O'Mara; her brothers, Willie, Jack, Chris, Joe, Burt and Harry; and a special cousin, Joseph "Bud" Kenefick, who had been raised in Rita's family as another sibling. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, February 13, 2014, at the Church of the Annunciation, West St., Ilion, where a Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Leo Potvin, assisted by Deacon James Bower. Spring interment will be held in St. Agnes Cemetery, North Ilion. Calling hours will be held Wednesday, February 12, 2014, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Applegate-Day & Enea Family Funeral Home's newly reopened location at 102 West St., Ilion. Anyone wishing to share a memory of Rita, or add to her online memorial, may go to: www.applegateandday.com The family is very grateful to the staff at Valley Health Services of Herkimer for their gentle and caring attentions to Rita over the past seven months. In lieu of flowers, as an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made in Rita's name to St. Agnes Cemetery Association, 109 West St., Ilion, NY 13357, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908. Envelopes are also available at the funeral home. Rita's family has requested that her services be held at Applegate-Day & Enea Family Funeral Home, 102 West St., Ilion, and that all arrangements and supervision be entrusted to Funeral Director, Don Applegate.