The Life of RITA ELIZABETH MITCHELL
Rita “Rose” Elizabeth Mitchell entered heaven peacefully on Friday, November 3, 2006 at Kavanagh Hospice House. A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 8, 2006 at Our Lady of the Americas St. Peter’s Worship Center with burial following at Highland Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 7, 2006 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service starting at 6:30 p.m. at St. Peter’s Worship Center.
Rita was born June 16, 1925 in Galva, Iowa and was the 5th of 11 children of George and Mary Reis. Rita was raised on the family farm in Early, Iowa and moved to Des Moines at age 19 with several of her sisters to work at the Brown Hotel Coffee Shop.
Rita was richly blessed by the Lord when following a long exchange of letters during the later part of World War II, she married Anthony L. Mitchell in 1946. She and Tony were married for 58 years. Their marriage was blessed with four children, Barbara Scott of Indianapolis, IN, Stanley (Anne) of Boston, MA, Patrick (Teresa) of Des Moines and Mary (Mark) Amadeo of Des Moines. Rita lived to see 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She is survived by her brothers, Herb and Joe Reis; sisters, Charlotte Latta, Florence Cook, Barbara Nieland and Janet Luchtel.
Rita was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, Mary Ann, Grace, John and Paul and her husband, Anthony Rita was a devoted servant of the Lord and demonstrated kindness to others throughout her life. She was a long time member of Our Lady of the Americas/St. Peter’s Worship Center. Rita found great joy in her service to the Lord by volunteering her time to maintaining the church, working bingo, serving as an active member of the Altar/Rosary Society and cooking meals for the priests. She was a very talented china-painter, cake decorator, craft maker, furniture restorer and gardener. She was also an avid member of the Des Moines Doll Club. Rita loved her children and grandchildren very much and spent her time hosting special tea parties and making cookies with them. She enjoyed a Sunday stroll with her husband, visiting friends and cooking for her family at every holiday.
Rita spent her final years at Union Park Nursing Home: a special thanks to Ruby, Dorcia and Wendy for all your love, compassion and special care for Rita and also to Kavanagh Hospice House.
Memorial Contributions may be made to her church or Kavanagh House. Arrangements are being handled by Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon St.
Rita was born June 16, 1925 in Galva, Iowa and was the 5th of 11 children of George and Mary Reis. Rita was raised on the family farm in Early, Iowa and moved to Des Moines at age 19 with several of her sisters to work at the Brown Hotel Coffee Shop.
Rita was richly blessed by the Lord when following a long exchange of letters during the later part of World War II, she married Anthony L. Mitchell in 1946. She and Tony were married for 58 years. Their marriage was blessed with four children, Barbara Scott of Indianapolis, IN, Stanley (Anne) of Boston, MA, Patrick (Teresa) of Des Moines and Mary (Mark) Amadeo of Des Moines. Rita lived to see 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She is survived by her brothers, Herb and Joe Reis; sisters, Charlotte Latta, Florence Cook, Barbara Nieland and Janet Luchtel.
Rita was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, Mary Ann, Grace, John and Paul and her husband, Anthony Rita was a devoted servant of the Lord and demonstrated kindness to others throughout her life. She was a long time member of Our Lady of the Americas/St. Peter’s Worship Center. Rita found great joy in her service to the Lord by volunteering her time to maintaining the church, working bingo, serving as an active member of the Altar/Rosary Society and cooking meals for the priests. She was a very talented china-painter, cake decorator, craft maker, furniture restorer and gardener. She was also an avid member of the Des Moines Doll Club. Rita loved her children and grandchildren very much and spent her time hosting special tea parties and making cookies with them. She enjoyed a Sunday stroll with her husband, visiting friends and cooking for her family at every holiday.
Rita spent her final years at Union Park Nursing Home: a special thanks to Ruby, Dorcia and Wendy for all your love, compassion and special care for Rita and also to Kavanagh Hospice House.
Memorial Contributions may be made to her church or Kavanagh House. Arrangements are being handled by Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon St.