Rita Mary Vargo

Rita M. Vargo (née Hurajt), beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great- grandmother recently passed from this life to be with the Lord and to join her husband Francis in Heaven.

Born to Thomas and Margaret Hurajt of Cleveland, OH, Rita was warmly welcomed into a large and loving family by her older brother Leonard Hurajt, Cousin Margaret Zsiga and 29 first cousins. She attended St. Benedict’s Church elementary school and was graduated from Notre Dame Academy high school.

Numbered among the “Greatest Generation,” Rita was employed by the War Department during World War ll to screen and dispatch incoming correspondence. In 1945, she married Francis (Frank) Vargo and began the job she loved most: that of wife, homemaker and mother to five children.

In the late 1950s, Rita and Frank moved their family to Houston, TX where her husband joined his brother, Al Vargo, in the restaurant business. Frank, along with the support of Rita and family, operated the well-known Black Angus Restaurant of Houston for more than 30 years.

Throughout their lives, Rita and Frank remained faithful to God and the Catholic Church, where they devoted much of their lives assisting the community. They first joined Corpus Christi parish in Houston, and later became founding members of St. John Vianney parish, where Rita was involved in numerous activities until moving to San Antonio in 2013.

Faith was the foundation of Rita’s life and marriage, as exemplified by the many organizations in which she served over the years. She enjoyed membership in the Catholic Daughters of America and the St. John Vianney Women’s Club where she started meetings with jokes she collected, taught religious education, served as a Eucharistic minister, and held numerous positions in the Northwest Deanery Council of Catholic Women, the most memorable of which was as its president. She also contributed significantly to the building of two missionary chapels, one in Africa in honor of her son Brian, and the other in India, in memory of her beloved mother, Margaret.

After her children were grown, Rita followed her passion for travel. She toured our great country as well as Europe and Asia. One of her most cherished trips was to Slovakia, where her mother had been born and baptized. Rita often traveled with family members, including her daughter Robin and oldest granddaughter Christina. She and Frank also enjoyed attending Slovak polka dances and festivals in the countryside, which earned them the monikers of Dancing Queen and Polka King.

Rita is preceded in death by her husband Francis; her parents Thomas and Margaret Hurajt; brother Leonard Hurajt and wife Ethel; 21 first cousins and great-granddaughter, Sydney Vargo.

Rita is survived by her children: son Mark Vargo and his wife Barbara of Brooklyn, NY; Claude Vargo and wife Gloria of Bastrop, TX; Robin Vargo Sifuentes and husband José Luis of San Antonio, TX; Brian Vargo of Houston, TX; and Vanita Vargo Netek and husband Gerard of Buda, TX. Among her nephews and nieces are Jay Voss and his wife Lara of New York City; and Marsha Voss of Cleveland, OH. Grandchildren include Christina Vargo of Hallettsville, TX; Dennis Vargo and wife Melissa of Kansas City, KS; Travis Vargo and wife Nikki of Houston, TX; Amanda Vargo Wattecamps and husband Dylan of Granger, TX; Gabriel Sifuentes and wife Eve of Oceanside, NY; Sarah Sifuentes Hearn and husband Vincent of San Antonio, TX; and Nadia Netek of Durango, CO. Rita’s great-grandchildren are Kaylee, Kenzie, Emily, Addison, Broden, Violet and Charlotte Vargo; Gabriella, Darien and Paisley Hearn; Annika Brooks; Peyton and Ellis Wattecamps; and Liam Sifuentes. Her great-great-grandchildren are Jackson Harris and Amari Hearn-Jimenez.

In her final years, Rita enjoyed independent living at Emerald Oaks Retirement Community, where she danced, frequently won weekly games of chance and Bingo, researched trivia facts to quiz her friends, attended social activities, and kept up with sports, recitals and gatherings of four generations of family members.

“Remarkable Rita,” as she was fondly called by her family, will always be remembered for her life of faith, joy, humor, and positivity for nearly 101 years!

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Andrew Abbey, 10510 Buckeye Road, Cleveland, OH 44104, an institution close to Rita and her family that provides education, scholarships and services to the local community.