Mrs. Rita Marie Woodward

Private Family Visitation will be held at Earthman Funeral Home in Stafford, Texas on Saturday, January 4, 2014 from 9:00-9:45 a.m., Visitation from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Funeral service to begin at 11:00 a.m., with Father T.J. Dolce of St. Thomas More, officiating, and Reverend Steve Henze, of St. Timothy Lutheran Church, will also be participating in the funeral ceremony. Burial will follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.

Rita was born in Houston, Texas to Joseph and Josephine Hyams on September 8, 1927. She went to Milby High School where she was a cheerleader her Junior and Senior Year. Rita graduated from Milby in 1944 and began her first job working for Brown Shipbuilding Co. as a secretary to the editor of their newspaper. After having 4 children, in 1964, Rita went back to work as a secretary for the City of Houston under the direction of the City Health Department for the first federally funded immunization program. She continued her career working for the City of Houston’s Health Department until 1970 where she was transferred to the Civic Center Department. In 1982 she went to work for City Council Member, Eleanor Tinsley and retired from the City of Houston in 1987. Rita continued to work as a volunteer for Eleanor Tinsley’s campaign until 1989.

From 1990-1993, Rita served as Westbury High School’s PTO President/Vice President. In 1992, Rita founded the Friends of Westbury High School Foundation, a non-profit organization providing grants to outstanding seniors, teacher support and special school projects. To date, the Foundation has awarded 188 scholarships and raised $236,000. From 1983-2013, Rita Woodward has been awarded several honors including an Honorary Degree from Houston Community College, Mayor’s Proclamation – Rita Woodward Day, a Park dedicated in her name (The Rita Woodward Environmental Nature Park), a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition and the George Washington Honor Award by the Freedom Foundation-Houston Chapter. Rita was also an honorary member of Beta Omicron Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, a professional organization of Women Educators.

Her passion was supporting her community in any way she could. Rita served on the board of the Friends of Westbury High School Foundation, the Westbury Area Improvement Corporation, Southwest Houston 2000, and the Braes Oaks Management District.

Rita is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Josephine Hyams, brother Joe Hyams, sister-in-law, Jackie Hyams, brother-in-law, Hugh LeVrier and nephew Grady LeVrier.

Rita is survived by her sister Frances LeVrier of Houston, TX, son, Paul B. Daigre, III, daughters Suzanne Bathe and son-in-law Larry, Chereze Therkildsen and son-in-law Roger, Annette Hernandez and son-in-law James; eight grandchildren, Araina Corpus and husband Tony, Brynn Zubizarreta and husband Merrill, Kristin Hargrave and husband Trevor, Kevin Hernandez, Eric Therkildsen and wife Christa, Todd Therkildsen and wife, Sylvia, Kyle Therkildsen, and Angela Bathe; six great grandchildren, Christopher Corpus, Anthony, Michael and Camelia Zubizarreta, Tyson Hargrave and Brooke Therkildsen.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Friends of Westbury High School Foundation, PO Box 31386, Houston, TX 77231-1386 to endow a scholarship in Rita’s name.

The family sends a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Shalin Shah and Dr. Mark Zafereo of MD Anderson Sugar Land Cancer Center for their compassionate and loving care to our mother, Rita M. Woodward, in her very difficult battle with the angiosarcoma.

The family also wishes to extend their gratitude to the Vitas Hospice Care for their compassionate support in her last few days.