Rita John (Thomas) La Hood passed away quickly and peacefully on December 7, 2022. She was born in 1929 in Detroit to Anne and John Thomas. She lived a long life, passing at the age of 93. She attended Catholic elementary and high schools, later working at Ma Bell in Detroit.
Rita met her husband, Richard “Dick” La Hood and they married in 1953. She had four children, six grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. She was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and a friend of many who knew her. Her greatest love was reading, especially biographies and autobiographies, teaching herself to speed read at an early age. She was a woman’s rights advocate far before it was mainstream. At the same time, she was a devout Catholic.
She is survived by her children: Diane (James) Lepere, Linda La Hood, Richard (Michele Tetreault) La Hood, Gary (Lucy) La Hood; her grandchildren: Lisa (Keith) Pollard, Alex La Hood, Jeffrey (Emily Atwood) La Hood, Jamison Tetreault, Noelle (Micah) Maude, Renee (Mike) Simkus; and her great grandchildren: Hailey Pollard, Brynn Maude and Brandon Maude. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Theresa Thomas; nieces and nephews: Anthony (Jennifer) Thomas, Sandra (John) Malone, Timothy (Lisa) Thomas, Kimberly (Mike) Wallenhorst, Fredrick (Tracie) Courville; and great nieces and nephews. Rita was predeceased by her husband, Richard La Hood; and her brothers, Anthony and David Thomas.
Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, December 17, 2022 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 22412 Overlake St., St. Clair Shores, Michigan. Memorial Visitation from 9:30am until time of Mass. Mon. Michael Bugarin presiding. Inurnment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be directed to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 (www.stjude.org/donate/srch/donate-in-honor-or-memory-of-someone.html?frequency_selected=2&sc_icid=impactgiving-memorial-bttn)
or
Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Development Office 1820 Mount Elliott Street, Detroit, MI 48207 (https://www.cskdetroit.org/online-donations)
Fond memories and online condolences may be offered to the family via the online guestbook at www.kaul-funeral.com
