Rita Irene Johnston

The former Rita Irene O’Rourke was born in Kitchener to the late Raymond (Pat) and Elizabeth O’Rourke. She is a sister to Madedline Litschgy of Kitchener and the late Norman O’Rourke and Helen Lesley.

She married R. Bruce Johnston on Nov. 12th, 1942, a soldier soon to be sent overseas in World War Two. Although wounded a couple of times in Italy, he survived the war and returned to Rita. Together they would have eight offsprings. Blake of Fergus; Brian (Linda) of R.R. #2 Combermere, On.; Sharon Ratcliffe (Ed), Elmira; Bruce (Joyce) of Maryhill; Brent (Jackie) of Guelph; Judy; Gail McDaid (Pat) and Joan Richber (Todd) all of Kitchener. There are twenty six grandchildren and thirty great-grandchildren at last count.

Rita as a child of Pat O’Rourke, when he managed the Strand Bowling Lanes in the 1920’s and 1930’s grew up involved on many bowling teams. She bowled in the inter-city league for many years. Playing bingo a couple times a week was also her happy times in later life. She belonged to St. Francis Church before going into a nursing home.

Friends may call at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home, 621 King St. W. Kitchener on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 where the funeral service will be held in the chapel on Saturday at 11:00 am with Deacon Peter Pelletier officiating.

Rita will join her husband at Woodland Cemetery where he is buried, when he died in Dec of 1988, after forty six years of marriage. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society as expressions of sympathy through the funeral home. Reception to follow in the Ratz-Bechtel Family Centre.