Eileen M. Rao, Co-Founder of Mr. Lemon, Dies at 94
Saturday, December 30, 2023
Eileen M. Rao of Providence, Rhode Island, passed away at the age of ninety-four on December 28, 2023. She was the beloved wife of the late Joseph A. Rao, Sr. Born in Providence, she was the daughter of the late Anthony and Lillian Menese Santagata. She is survived by three children, Janice (Rao) Valedofsky and her husband, David, Joseph A. Rao, Jr., and Colleen N. Rao-Sales and her husband, Mark. Eileen Rao’s world was her three grandchildren, David M. Valedofsky, Jr., Darren M. Valedofsky, and Eileen N. Locicero. She was blessed with the time to enjoy her eight great-grandchildren, Joseph C. Valedofsky, Abigail R. Valedofsky, Keira H. Valedofsky, Paige W. Valedofsky, Noah H. Valedofsky, and Molly M. Valedofsky, Jack Locicero, and Josephine R. Locicero. Eileen’s family meant the world to her and she was always there for every family member in a time of need. She is also survived by her brother Everett Santagata.
Affectionately known as “Mama Lemon,” she was a co-founder and proprietor of Mr. Lemon for forty-nine years. Opening on June 21, 1974, Eileen M. Rao, alongside her husband Joseph, toiled endlessly perfecting their product by trial and error. Neither Eileen nor her husband Joseph had any prior knowledge about making frozen lemonade. Despite the many difficult times that they faced, Eileen and Joseph achieved success in perfecting their product and beginning the opening chapter of this Mr. Lemon love story.
Eileen Rao strived to make her lemonade store the best. For this woman, there was no room for error. Our mother and father sacrificed their lives to make their dream a success story. Mr. Lemon was our mother’s heart and she wanted the legacy that she and our father built to continue as she grew older. As her children, we knew how much our mother adored the lemonade store and we worked alongside her to continue the legacy. She instilled her knowledge about operating the store in each of us, yet she kept a close eye on us to make sure that we held onto the same high standards of quality that she and our father had created for their unique product. During this past season, a customer of ours asked how do you keep the product so consistent. We responded that our mother makes us take her a sample every day to ensure that the product met her standards. We continue to operate the business because of our love for our mother, knowing how much she adored her lemonade store. Our mother’s customers meant everything to her as she aimed to please them throughout her life. Our mother took pride in the product that she created.
We will honor her memory by following her footsteps in the Mr. Lemon business. Eileen Rao was the heart and soul of the business. She is irreplaceable. Our mother’s will was strong as a lion, yet her heart was as gentle as a lamb. We will continue to keep her legacy alive. We will miss our mother and will love her forever, “Mama Lemon”.
A Mass of Christian Burial for family and friends will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 2nd at 11:00 AM at St. Ann’s Church, 200 Hawkins Street, Providence, Rhode Island. Burial will follow at St. Francis Cemetery, Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Visiting hours are respectfully omitted. Arrangements are entrusted to A.A. Mariani & Son, Providence, Rhode Island.
