Obituary for Charles D. "Dusty" Jr. Rhodes
Charles R. "Dusty" Rhodes, Jr., age 41, beloved husband of Ilka Garita Rhodes of Ansonia, entered into eternal rest on February 14, 2012, at the Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven, surrounded by his family and friends following a brave 9 year battle with multiple myeloma. Born in Derby on March 8, 1970, he was the son of the late Charles R. Rhodes, Sr. and Frances "Kita" (Nick) Uleano of Ansonia. Dusty was a lifelong Ansonia resident, playing Ansonia Little League and Pop Warner Football for the Ansonia Coppers. He was a member of the 1983 Ansonia Copper Team that won the National Pop Warner Championship. He graduated from Ansonia High School in 1989 and worked as a Warehouse Manager for Whalley Curved Glass of Derby for thirteen years, until the time of his illness. He was a member of Liberty Hall, a dedicated fan of the Jets and Mets, and an active and passionate coach for Ansonia Little League. His family wishes to invite all his former players, coaches and fellow coaches to sign baseballs at the funeral home in his honor. In addition to his beloved wife Ilka of 17 years and his mother, he is survived by his cherished children, Chelsea I. Rhodes and Charles R. Rhodes III, of Ansonia; sisters, Linda (Bill) Mikita of Ansonia, Lisa Rhodes Penna, Diane "DeeDee" Rhodes of Ansonia, Donna (Sally) Rzasa of West Haven and a brother, David (Lynn) Rhodes of Ansonia; lifelong friends, Paul Maloney and Mauricio Poma of Ansonia; as well as many nieces and nephews. In addition to his father, Dusty was predeceased by a brother, Francis Rhodes. The family wishes to extend their heartfelt appreciation to Drs. Cooper, Chupp, APRNs Erin, Ray, Kristi and the entire oncology staff at the Smilow Cancer Hospital for the years of compassionate care. The family encourages all to continue participating in Dusty's spirit, in the Annual Multiple Myeloma Walk/Run, of New Canaan. A Mass of Christian Burial, MEETING DIRECTLY AT CHURCH, will be celebrated at 9:00 AM in Holy Rosary Church, Father Salemi Dr., Ansonia, on Saturday, February 18, 2012. Interment will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery, Ansonia. Family and friends may call on Friday, February 17, 2012 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM in the Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home, 167 Wakelee Ave., Ansonia. Memorial donations may be made to the Rhodes Children for Education in care of Ilka Rhodes.