Rita H. Spychalski

Rita H. Spychalski passed away at the ripe old age of 94. She wanted to stay in her Phoenix home and did just that. With the help of her live-in son, Terry, she had her wish. Rita’s daughter, Judith, is married and lives in Oregon with her husband, Mark Williams. Rita has one grandson, Bryan.

Rita had quite a life. She was born in Bay City, Michigan, a mid-size town north of Lancing. During the Great Depression, Rita remembered eating a lot of oranges and macaroni with milk. Not the best diet, but that’s how it was. She came from a family of 12 children—she was one of the middle kids. Although times were hard, Rita graduated from high school and worked as a ‘candy striper’ at a local hospital.

During WWII, she corresponded with a GI stationed in Hawaii. He sent her a decorated coconut still in its outer shell. It was one of her treasures. A friend, Marion Spychalski, gave her a picture of himself in uniform before being sent overseas. Unfortunately he died during the invasion of Europe. She kept his picture.

Early after the war, Rita worked at S. S. Kresge’s Department Store—later to be known as K-Mart. While working there, a young man approached her to ask her out on a date. He was Edwin S. Spychalski, one of Marion’s older brothers. He was carrying her picture (a memento of his brother’s.)

Dating led to marriage. They bought a house and started their family. Then things changed, and Rita’s life would never be the same. Layoffs were the rage, and Ed couldn’t risk not having a job. He went to the local Army recruiter and enlisted retaining the rank he had upon leaving service after the war. He came home saying, “I found a job I can’t be fired from. I’ve reenlisted in the Army, and I have orders.” Rita cried her eyes out thinking he just wanted to leave. He calmed her down enough to explain she and her son would join him once he was settled in Colorado. Judith was born at Camp Carson, Colorado Springs, CO.

Thus began her life as a military dependent. Rita was no longer a small town girl. She and her little family hopped from place to place. Yokohama, Japan was Rita’s favorite with France coming in second and Germany third. She crisscrossed the states living in places like Junction City, Kansas, Kempner, Texas, and Camp Drum, New York.

When Ed retired after 22 years of service, they finally decided on Arizona. Although they went there sight unseen, Ed’s first thought was, “I won’t have to shovel snow”. Rita reconnected with her past by working for K-Mart, formerly S. S. Kresge’s Department Store. She retired at 70. Full circle.

Rita’s graveside service is Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at 10am. She will be buried next to her husband, Edwin at Resthaven Park Cemetery, 6450 W. Northern Avenue, Glendale, AZ.