The beloved Rita Mendes, 98, passed away on May 16, 2023, in Moreno Valley, California. She was born on July 15, 1924, in Downey, California, to the late parents, John and Maria Rocha. She came from a large family of 9 children.
At the age of 16 she rode a bicycle to the bus station to meet up with her future husband Frank Mendes in Arkansas to get married to him before he left for service. On May 1, 1943 they married and a little over a year later she had her daughter Dolores on August 8, 1944 while her husband was servicing in WWII as a tank drive under General Patton. They were married for 56 years before her husband passed away in July 1999.
Rita had several jobs before she worked for the company Scholle’s for 25 years. In her free time, she loved oil painting farm landscapes, sewing many clothes and Barbie doll clothes for her grandkids. She was a big lover of dogs and had many special pups over the years. She loved to travel with her husband and later with her grandkids.
She loved getting together with her family and celebrating all the holidays, birthdays, and family gatherings. This was her favorite part in life, being around her family and bragging to people she met about all the great-great grandkids she had.
Rita will be remembered by her surviving daughter, Dolores Impinna, grandchildren -Natalie Davila, Matt Hacker, Regina Georgievski, Great Grandchildren – Ehren Bernett, Rochelle Wilker , Christopher Bond, Ricky Davila, Joey Davila, Mikey Davila, Derek Hacker, Jason Hacker, Nicholas Georgievski, Eli Georgievski, Jacob Georgievski Great-Great Grandchildren - Cameron Wilker, Bryson Bernett, Avah Davila, Emily Wilker, Oliver Davila, Olivia Bond, Logan Bernett, and Dylan Davila.
A celebration of life will be planned at a later date to honor Rita's life and legacy.
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