Rita M Barnes

On the afternoon of January 13, 2017, at approximately 1:35 p.m., Rita passed away after a 3 month battle with Cancer. Rita was surrounded by family members in her home in Pinellas Park, Florida. Rita was 90 years old. Rita Barnes was born in the town of Chicago, IL in Cook County on June 8, 1926. She was the oldest of two children of Fred and Lucille Beck. Rita met the love of her life, Norman Barnes at the White City Roller Rink while roller skating. On February 20, 1944, they were happily married in Kansas City, Kansas. Rita gave birth to seven children and resided in the Chicagoland area. In 1984 after retirement, Rita moved with her husband to Largo, Florida. Rita always spoke of how she loved to go to White Sox Park with her dad as a young girl. Rita was full of life! She loved to party and she loved to hang out with family and friends. She loved red wine and just enjoyed life. She always worried about her children even up to the end. She was a very loving wife, mother, mother in law, grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved animals, especially her cat Star. Rita was an avid sports fan. It didn’t matter if it was tennis, golf, baseball, football or any other sport, Rita would watch it.

Rita was preceded in death by her husband, Norman Barnes; parents, Fred and Lucille Beck; sister, Rose Beck; sons, Donald Barnes and Douglas Barnes; two daughters, Diane Chigaros and Deborah Hurley.

Rita is survived by her daughter, Denise (Sigmund) LaPorta of Romeoville, IL; her two sons, David (Joanne) Barnes of Seminole, FL and Dale (Jackie) Barnes of Pinellas Park, FL: daughter in law, Sandy Barnes of Sand Key, FL and son in law, Tim Hurley of Romeoville, IL; 15 Grandchildren; Cassie Chigaros, Dean Chigaros, Donnie (Karen) Barnes, Cherie Barnes, Kimberly (Larry) Polselli, Timothy Hurley, Shawn (Renee) Hurley, Shannon (Jason) Blizniak, Edmund “Sig”(Michelle) LaPorta III, Tabitha (Nick) Williams, Anthony (Beth) LaPorta, Nicole (Dave) Mancusi, Samantha “Sammy” Barnes, Dale Barnes, Joseph “Joe” (Christine) Barnes and 25 Great-Grand Children: Jake & Sara Barnes, Madysen Morgen, & Ryan Brenn, Anthony, Isabella, & Leah Polselli, Lauren Hurley, Tyler, Jordan & Sydney Hurley, MacKenzie, Noah, & Kameron Blizniak, Brendan & Kaylee LaPorta, Corey, Amber & Paetyn Williams, Anthony & Gianna Laporta, Soulimar Barnes, Justine & Joseph John Barnes II “LJ”.

Graveside Services for Rita are 3:00 pm February 7, 2017 at Garden Sanctuary Cemetery, 7950 131st Street N, Seminole, FL (727) 391-0121.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Suncoast Hospice, 5771 Roosevelt Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33760.

Rita has an additional website link located at: www.legacy.com

Arrangements were made under the direction of Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home, 7950 131st Street, Seminole, FL 33776 / 727-391-0121.