Rita E. Greene, 96, lived an extraordinary life. How do you put into words the worth of a mother? Many have tried, but I think her life tells a better story. A story of unconditional love, forgiveness, kindness, undeserved grace, trust, joy, laughter, selflessness and perseverance - just to name a few. Our family has a memory for each of these attributes, but we will save those for later. Her life here on earth was amazing but it doesn’t end there.
She was born on January 7,1926 in Triadelphia, West Virginia to Carl and Catherine Bott. As a child she had many great memories and experiences living on her family farm. She spent many hours at Oglebay Park appreciating the beauty of the West Virginia countryside. She was also a member of 4-H and International Farm Youth Exchange ( IFYE ). In Rita’s early adulthood, just after World War II had ended, she was a delegate with IFYE spending 3 months in Europe.
Rita’s love of dancing, crafting and sewing carried into her adult life. She sewed for her children and grandchildren through making holiday dresses for the girls, a wedding dress, prom dresses, prom vests, bow ties, bibs, walker bags and mending for the elderly. Knitting was also another passion, her skills and talents for creating sweaters was nothing short of professional. She and her late husband were founding members of St. Pius X Catholic Church (SPX), where she was involved and knitted beautiful and breathtaking prayer shawls.
In addition to her work at SPX, she also volunteered at St. Augustine Home for the Aged and St. Vincent de Paul food pantry. In all of her other spare time, while raising 6 children, she was also involved in bridge club, book club, and water aerobics - to just name a few.
She and her late husband, Robert, were married November 22nd, 1952. They celebrated over 60 years of marriage. They were active members of Indiana Bell Telephone Pioneers Club. They loved traveling to places like Alaska, Hawaii and wintering in Big Pine Key, FL. Their love of camping started a family tradition of many decades worth of memories while vacationing in beautiful Indian River, Michigan. Burt Lake State Park will forever hold a special place in their hearts as well as their children and grandchildren. Among this love was countless nights at the campfire which included uncontrollable laughter, questions of the day, storytelling, s’mores and late night pie making.
More adventures included pizza dinners at Vivio’s, boating excursions, fishing, teaching multiple family members how to water ski, Trailer Park Olympics, ’crap-crafts’ and annual park ranger warnings of noise ordinance violations. What would camping be like without the Greene’s?!
On a more serious note, Rita and her late husband, Robert, selected Burt Lake to start their family tradition because of the beautiful church, Cross In The Woods National Shrine, which they attended every Sunday while on vacation. They were proud to instill their faith to their family. In her later years, Rita was able to enjoy countless weekends at her youngest son’s lake house in Coldwater, Michigan. The views and memories were reminiscent of vacations at Burt Lake…’exactly like it - only different!’
Rita was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Robert D. Greene.
Rita is survived by her loving children, Richard (Kay) Greene, Rita (Jeff) Linehan, Ronald Greene, Ruth Ann (Phil) Resparc, Robin (Jeff) Hensley, and Roger Greene; grandchildren, Kacie and Sean (Jackie) Linehan; Taylor, (Tess and great granddaughter Emilia), Natalie and Logan Resparc; Harrison, Davis, and Justin Hensley.
Rita is alive and well, living eternally in the presence of the one who wrote her story long ago. Mom, grandma, great-grandma, Rita - your chapter in our lives is now complete and your memories are forever written in our hearts.
A visitation for Rita will be on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at St. Pius X Catholic Church from 1:00pm-2:00pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.feeneyhornakkeystone.com for the Greene family.
