Rita B Loft

Rita Loft was an incredible wife, mother and grandmother and the true definition of the family matriarch. She was one of the most unique individuals that anyone could possibly meet. She had the rare combination of kindness and sharp wit that allowed herself to stand out in any crowd.

Rita was born and raised in Brooklyn by her parents, Herman and Rose. She was joined by her beloved sister, Barbra just a few years later. Rita met Stu when they were just teenagers growing up in Brooklyn. They fell in love so quickly that they ran off and married before it was even legal in state of New York sand didn’t even tell anyone! Their sons didn’t even know that story until Barbra, told Scott about it in 1987. Rita’s only comment after Scott told her was he knew her secret was ‘I’m going to kill my sista!’ Stu and Rita married legally a short-time later and quickly set out to start a family. Robert was their first son and was followed five years later by Gary.

Stu worked many different jobs before he set his mind to continue his education in New Mexico where the family resided for a short period of time. They moved to Indiana for Stu to attend dental school at Indiana University and also had their third and final son, Scott.

While Stu opened his dental practice, Rita was the glue that held both the office and the family together. She had the innate ability to both manage his very successful dental offices and their home. Bringing up three boys that were 10 and five years apart was no small task. Robert was the rebellious one, Gary was the happy go lucky son and Scott was the youngest by ten and 15 years and reaped all of the benefits of being the spoiled son after their successful business flourished.

While Rita had many long-time friends that mostly originated in Indianapolis and West Palm Beach, her main affection was for Stu. He was the love of her life and they traveled the world together to places including Japan, China, Europe, Africa collecting many pieces of art that remain in the family today. They also made sure to also travel with the entire family as often as possible. Without a doubt, the lasting memories of the family will be the many family vacations.

Along the way, each of her boys were fortunate to find a wife to bring into the family. Rita treated her daughters-in-laws Cathy and Karen like her daughters, not daughters-in-law. She often explained how much they were the final piece to the Loft family puzzle and both of them made her son’s better people.

Jason, Roberts’ son, came into the family in 1976 and Josh, Scott and Cathy’s son, came along in 1996. She adored both of them and was lucky enough to live around each of them in Indiana and Florida. They both had special relationships with their beloved grandma. Only recently did Alex and Eva enter Rita’s life but they clearly brought a smile to her face during difficult times.

At the end of her journey, it was very difficult for Rita to adjust to losing the love of her life in 2010 after 59 years of a wonderful marriage. Rita and Stu did everything together making her adjustment a difficult one but she fought through it and stayed active until she no longer couldn’t. The last months and weeks were extremely difficult to see Rita lose her ability to be her spunky self. However, her life concluded exactly as she planned while living in her home, surrounded by love and family and we celebrate that love here today knowing that she finally gets to hold hands with her one and only Stuart again.