For those that knew Rita, will remember her as a wonderful, caring, person who loved to laugh and take part in whatever her family and friends were up to. She loved to watch all the athletic competitions that her sons or husband were taking part in – and she didn’t mind letting any referee or umpire know when they made a bad call.
Rita was an avid bingo fan, and she was thrilled when she won. She was a loyal Maple Leaf’s fan much to the disappointment of her husband who is one of the biggest Habs fan ever. Before Rita’s illness she loved to sing and dance to the music of the 60’s and she could put anyone to shame when she did the jive or the twist. Right to her last days, she loved singing to her great-grandsons “A bushel and a peck”. She loved the colour yellow and anything that could be colored, would simply become yellow. This meant her clothing, her flowers, even that one time she won the battle with her husband and the kitchen was painted sunshine yellow.
Rita was the heart of her family, and she will always be remembered by her family and friends as a person who gave willingly of herself to make someone else happy. We will all miss her tremendously, although we know that after a long battle with cancer, she is now at rest in the hands of God in whom she truly believed.
Rita is survived by her husband, Johnny Fitzner and two sons, Billy (Jody) and Chris (Eva). She was a proud Mama to her four grandchildren, Angelica, Alexandria (Ryan), Elizabeth, and Wade along with her two great grandsons, John Ainslie and Lauchlan. She has one remaining sister, Josie (Paul) along with many nieces and nephews.
Rita was predeceased by her parents, Nellie and Charlie Cormier; two sisters, Angeline & Joan; and three brothers, Charlie, Patrick and Philip. She was also predeceased by three brothers in law Herbie, Butchie and Brian.
Visitation will be held on Sunday June 23 from 5-8 pm in Inverness Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will take place on Monday June 24 at 11:00 am in Stella Maris Church, Inverness. Burial to follow in the parish cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Central Inverness Palliative Care Society.
Online condolences can be made to: www.invernessfuneralhome.com