Rita Julie Hosler

Rita Ventura was born on December 6th, 1938 to Italian immigrant parents in Worcester, Massachusetts. Her father Julius Ventura came here at 18 from Bari and her mother Anna was a 5 year old coming from Sicily.

She graduated from Commerce High School in 1957. She met Larry Hosler in 1956 while he was stationed at army base Fort Devens, MA. They were married in 1959. Many years were spent in Indiana before moving to Bakersfield in 1967. Rita attended Cal State Bakersfield and graduated in the school’s second graduating class. Later she earned her master’s degree from University of LaVerne.

Mrs. Hosler was a giving and generous person who worked with at-risk youth as a high school teacher at East and Stockdale High Schools until her retirement in 1999.

Rita enjoyed and lived a very full and exciting life, which centered around family, friends, knowledge, and travels. She was extremely intelligent, funny and had a quick wit. Rita loved passing her time drinking a cup of tea while working a crossword puzzle, playing bridge with her “bridge buddies” or cribbage with her husband, and hearts with her grandchildren.

Rita was proud of her collection of unusual rocks and shells from the beach along with the collection of playing cards from around the world and numerous tea cups. She loved humming birds, skunks, roses and the color red.

With the Italian blood in her body, her driving was compared to a race car driver as she was known as the “Mario Andretti” of Bakersfield. Her home frequently smelled of Italian home cooked meatballs or fresh fish. Rita delighted friends and family with her calamari and octopus recipes. She loved listening to classical music and anything sung by Luciano Pavarotti.

When she wasn’t on a trip or at a bridge game she could be found in “her” kitchen or watching her grandchildren grow up. Anyone called “miss” instantly knew it was Rita calling. She was a devoted Catholic woman and a very gracious person.

Rita is survived by her loving husband of 52 years Larry (aka “honey”). He will miss her dearly as she was literally his life. They had so many great times together. She had three daughters who adored her: Maria Orloff (husband Alex), Julie Lee Hosler (husband Damaso), and Gigi Barnes (husband Brad). She will be missed by her grandchildren Forest, Gracie, Trevor, Giselle and Eric.

A visitation will be held Monday, July 11, 2011 from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 6:00 p.m. at Hillcrest Memorial Park & Mortuary; 9101 Kern Canyon Road, Bakersfield, CA 93306. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church; 900 “H” Street, Bakersfield, CA 93304, followed by interment at Hillcrest Memorial Park – Garden of Memories Lawn. Services are under the direction of Hillcrest Memorial Park & Mortuary.

www.hillcrestmemorial.com