When Rita was a young teen, she probably had a fairly carefree life as her mother, Zoe Bellocq, was a free spirited French woman who married an adoring Irishman, Mathew Hogan.  Parties, picnics, and playing cards were no strangers to their home.  He even allowed Zoe to brew her own beer in the bathtub.   Matt was involved in the dry cleaning business and purchased the Jewel Cleaners in 1926 hoping to move it to their new two-story home (valued at $10,000) a few houses away on Carrollton Avenue in New Orleans.  Banks started failing and he kept his worries from the family.  He suffered a heart attack a few days after Christmas and died the 3rd of January 1934, age 47, at the height of the Great Depression.

     Her mother went into deep shock and Rita, nearly 18, found that she had to be the major support to her mother and her 7 year old sister, Zoe.  The bank took away their home and they sold the laundry to a family friend who gave Rita a job in the office of "The Jewel".

     The next year Rita met Tom d'Aquin who enjoyed playing cards with the Hogan gals.  Their courtship lasted four years before Rita's mother confronted Tom asking, "When are you going to marry my daughter".  Startled he retorted, "I don't make enough money to get married".  He was encouraged to ask his boss for a raise--which he got--and to consider moving in with his newly extended family of Hogan women. 

     It was not until Tommy Junior was born that Rita's mother was able to overcome her depression.  She took over the care of Tommy, and Rita continued working until Melanie was born four and a half years later.  Rita later expressed regret that she did not get to raise her son in his early years.  She had felt pressured into working, and even had doubts about marrying Tom as it was her mother's idea.  In spite of all she had to endure, she was a kind and generous woman who loved her children and treasured her grandchildren.  Rita and her sister Zoe remained true lifetime friends helping each other through life's challenges.