In Loving Memory . . .

 

 

Remembering Rita Ann

 1940-2013

 

A dear friend of my family died a month ago.

She was a beautiful person,

kind, gentle, gracious, humble,

faithful, faith filled.

She was a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend.

 

She is missed unbelievably

by her husband Jim

her children Ann, Brian, Kathleen and Matt

and friends and extending family.

 

Rita and her husband Jim

 live in the subdivision where Gary and I lived

when we moved from Wisconsin to Michigan.

 

it was a wonderful neighborhood

for our children to grow up,

live, play and enjoy.

Building forts, sledding on the creek hill,

playing barbies,

games, skiing,

plenty of mischief too.

 

Rita was like a mom to my two

and I felt like a mom to her family.

 

Brian and Scott have had a chance

 to reconnect in the past few weeks.

 

Kathleen and Suzie live near one another

and have stayed connected through the years.

 

Rita and Jim were very kind, giving and caring

to me and to Scott and Suzie when their dad

and my husband died suddenly in 1980.

 

My heart is sad for Jim,

Matt, Kathleen, Brian and Ann.
 

I am here for them
with my love, prayers
hugs and caring.

 

May God Bless Each of You

 

Rita





Ann and her mom

 





Kathleen and her mom
 



 Surprise 65th Birthday Party at the cottage
Rita and Jim
Kathleen, Ann, Brian, Matt
 



 





Rita and Jim

 



In the words of

Kahlil Gibran

". . . Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow . . .

When you are joyous,

look deep into your heart

and you shall find it is only that

which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.

When you are sorrowful

look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth

you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Some of you say, "Joy is greater, than sorrow,"

and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."

But I say unto you, they are inseparable.

Together they come,

and when one sits alone with you at the board,

remember that the other is asleep upon your bed . . . "

~ ~ ~