The Angel’s whispered softly 
And sleepy souls lay still 
A hush came over across a cloud 
there’s another seat to fill 
A beautiful robe was glistening 
one halo to be her crown 
White feathered things to be fitted 
She was escorted with not a sound 
with all our family members greeting her from all around.

Mom you have brought together this blended family 
we recognize it wasn't with ease 
it took grit and determination 
but to us it appeared it was a breeze.
Plumbing has been second nature, i think you would agree 
i think of you often every time i have to pee.
Seeing the toilet bowl filled to the brim 
is how some of my days started with a grin 
and trash …
OMG total nightmare for me 
Garbage is definitely the main event of the week 
never saw anyone who would do it with great emphasis and wit 
i can hardly speak. 
Even at one point labeling the bag as “trash” so the garbage guys could identify it 
and not mistake it for cash? 
and the day you hauled the garbage including the compost into the bedroom (in the middle of the night) to my surprise! 
i just couldn’t believe this. i could not believe my eyes! 
Scavenger is my game 
Finding plates and dishes in the fridge or dish towel in the danish 
it is all the same 
Pondering where mom would put her next set of teeth 
it became quite perplexed i would explain. 
the best place hidden definitely was the garbage disposal where the denture broke in half 
thank goodness the dentist was able to fix it on your behalf! 
they only gave me a minute 
to share our lifetime of adventure 
As i had to share this spotlight for this joint venture. 
A few things came quickly to my mind 
the most that stood out how you have lived thru traumas of war and pandemic.
But yet when it is time to wash our clothes….you pout! 
That stupid washer you proclaimed 
I am going to conquer it and i am pretty sure you gave it another name ! 
Mom you also have a vision of things unseen. 
Your decorating capabilities are amazing! 
When you get to it, It would be really keen 
For example, like a chandelier in outside tree who knew? 
We really had no clue 
But it’s reflections from the crystals on our wall would show reds green and blues! 
When we went to see the Rain Forest in the Caribbean and you and Aunt Fran wouldn’t get off the bus! 
why we ask?  Because we may get wet I guess! 
Living with you Mom has been a blessing 
Got to see a lot of firsts …weddings, first communion confirmation or to see your first born 
Sometimes it was all in between and sometimes we were torn. 
Mom i don’t have to tell you how much you mean to all of us. 
You are our victorious queen 
You have worked all your life like a total machine! 
How you did it is sight unseen! 
The Definition of “Rita” means pearl and it’s true 
Because you are the gem in our lives and this comes directly from me, your daughter Sue! 
we love you, Mom! and this day was made special for you! 
You truly and always will be our north star! 
No one could never measure the love and kindness to all you met.
No one would be up to par. 
You are in our thoughts in the mornings and prayers when we sleep. you are forever in our hearts…. memories complete. 
You are responsible for our big beautiful tribe… 
More than words could ever describe. 
You are in God’s hands now, as St. peter meets you at the gate. 
With open arms to our Matriarch. 
Standing there with ice cream and a piece of cake!

THE LOSS OF MY MOM
by her daughter Judy Grady

How can you put into words the Loss of an incredible saintly person truly endowed in faith and charity, … heart wrenching! How can you describe the loss of a mom who was “my everything”, …heart wrenching! How do you describe the loss of a role model so loving and caring until she could give no more…heart wrenching! How can you describe the loss of a  mom who is much different than I in many ways but similar in values of love for family and giving of the soul, …heart wrenching! How can I describe the loss of my mom who was so inspiring with grit and understanding when no words were necessary….heart wrenching! How do you describe the loss of a woman created by God given a task to raise such a beautiful family fulfilled with God given duties….heart wrenching! How do you describe the loss of a woman endowed with such grace and charm bestowed on others….heart wrenching! How do you describe the loss of a mom no longer to turn to celebrate holidays weddings and birthdays….heart wrenching! How do you describe the loss of a mom who suffered many hardships but never felt sorry for herself because when she got knocked down she got up again...heart wrenching! But Mom, we promise you as testimony of your faith we will all endure going forth with the same commitment you taught us and we will not let you down…we will never forget you and we will live life as you taught us with faith, hope & love and the “greatest of these is love” as St Paul told the Corinthians 13:13.

I cant tell you how long ago it was but it had been awhile.  It might have been after my brother passed.    When I had alone time or quiet time with Grandma she would say “don’t forget you are speaking at my funeral.”  I would smile and say, “what ever you want Grandma”.  I was sure she would outlive us all and yet here we are.  If anyone needs a definition of legacy of love just look around this room.  The branches spread far.  Ninety nine years is a long time, and fifty eight years of those I got to be her the grandson.  I was the first grandchild.  As I became a grandfather, I understood what that actually meant.  The love you feel that you get from a grandma and grandpa.  Right now, it is all surreal.  Grandma was a woman of great faith who prayed for all of us and I know some of my blessings in life is because of her prayers for me.  I love the times I got to spend with her as a child and as an adult I never missed an opportunity to dance with her.  Whether it was in Saugatuck we were in the park with a band, my parents back yard for their anniversary, and weddings of my children and my wedding.  As a child going to spend vacations sometimes Coldwater and a lot of time in Saugatuck (I think my parents needed a break from me) my brothers were not there.  Just Patti, I and Grandma and Grandpa and people will pop in but I remember the dance in the park, our conversations at night, turned me on to popcorn and Johnny Carson.  Probably had a crush on him.  Does anyone remember Grandma’s Gross Pointe days?  At that time Grandma wanted to be called “Mum”.  I was young teenager, and my clothing consisted of black rock and roll shirts.  Grandma decided I needed a green Izod Allegator shirt, and I hated green.  Green was not a color that I liked but for Grandma I wore it and wore it proud.  When I turned twenty-one, she asked if I would join her for dinner to buy my first legal drink.  We had a great evening, sitting, talking, discussing it was a very memorable evening.  I started to date my wife Christine, and she welcomed her with open arms.  Anybody who knew grandma you were family. That’s just how it worked.  She filled whole that she did not know she had because she did not grow up with grandparents.  When my son was born, this was Great Grandchild #2 for her.  She came to the hospital just to hold him and was on the verge of losing her husband Grandpa.  I thought about how much strength this woman had to hold my child her great grandchild.  This is one of my favorites.  My son turned five and everyone knows what a big KISS fan I am.  They were embarking on their farewell tour which didn’t happen for another twenty five years after that.  I was insistent I was going to take my son because he wanted to go and my wife was insistent he was not going to go. My son went.  My son went because Grandma had a talk with my wife.  Grandma assured her was going to be with his Dad and nothing was going to happen.  Another KISS related thing friends of mine put together a band that they do once a year.  Grandma heard I was going to join this band for a couple songs me and my brother Jim.  Grandma came and sat up front with that loud loud music all night just to wait for me to sing these two songs and I had finished my first song and playing the crowd.  The first song of the evening the first line was “Get up and get your grandma out of here” but my grandma sitting right there and she is not going anywhere.  A couple days later I got a thank you note from Grandma which we still have, and my wife showed me, and she was thanking me for including her and honoring her.   Grandma didn’t miss one until my mother and my Aunt Sue decided it was too late and we don’t want to go anymore so don’t tell Grandma.  Another fun story of mine when I was working downtown at Vivio’s they had come in and done a newspaper article on the place and I was holding a bowl of chili.  Grandma was so proud of that she asked me to bring some home.  I brought it over to her and she had all her sisters at the table with my picture of the paper and served them the chili and told them all about it.  It was just chili Grandma.  A couple of years later my sister-in-law Jean was having a milestone birthday we will just say it was your 30th Jean.  Aunt Sue wasn’t around she must have been out of town or something so they asked me will you take Grandma?  Yeah!  Not only did I take Grandma I brought her flowers I picked her up.  We had a ride to the restaurant and the ride home just an awesome, awesome conversation.  Grandma is always the one constant.  She has been there for everything.  She has been there for everything.  Births, baptisms, communions, confirmations, dance recitals (which should get her in heaven alone), ballgames, birthdays, weddings.  Having her there at our house.  We kind of adopted Mothers Day because of birthdays and stuff.  For the past I don’t know how many years Grandma and Aunt Sue would always be there with us to celebrate after the morning Mother’s Day festivities.  Leading up to the difficulty over the past few years I would be called to change a light bulb, we need this or that, or something and I would always do it.  Grandma would always try to give me a twenty.” Grandma I was just changing the light bulb!” We all got hip to that and give it right back to Aunt Sue.  More recently I would get a phone call in the morning and I would have to go to the house to help her up and that was really heartbreaking.  I was glad to do it.  I was glad to be there for her.  I remember the first time I got there, I said “Grandma what are you doing on the floor?”  And she said “I am resting”.  I asked, “are you comfortable do you want a pillow?” She said” you are really nice.  Do you work here?”  No Grandma I don’t work here but I am going to help you get up.  It was a sobering ride to work after that.  I cannot say enough about the love that I felt for Grandma over the years.  When you live 99 years there are things that happen and a lot of people that go before you. Can you imagine the greeting she must of received.    Parents, sisters, husbands, children and grandchildren all waiting.  She loved and prayed for everyone here.  The best way to honor her is to be what you loved about her the most.  Grandma I hope you are dancing.  I hope I did you proud.

I know Grandma loved Saugatuck a lot and I would go up there often when they were there when her and Aunt Sue would rent for a couple of weeks, and I would ask “can I come up and stay with you for the weekend?”  One time we did that.  Grandma, my mom was together.  We split up and we would meet each other back right here on this bench. Sounds good.  Grandma got ice cream, I think.   Aunt Sue and I were talking for quite a while.  Time was going and time was going, and that is very unusual Grandma was very fast.  All the sudden Aunt Sue and I looked across the street behind us and my mom and Grandma were sitting on the bench behind us.  And that just goes to show you she was 100% there and it felt like nobody else in the world was there.

A Memory about grandma and her sister Fran and if I told you this story I am repeating it.  So many and her sisters were very close and Aunt Fran who would often join us to Saugatuck.  Which was kind of funny because she didn’t like leaving the cottage.  She would go with us and she would stay there to read her books which she could also do at home but anyway….So this one particular time I lost my phone while I was out and  I was using Aunt Sue’s phone and called and called my phone and we pulled back up to the cottage. Aunt Fran and Grandma ran outside and said, “Sue we are hearing voices!” and it was my ringtone.  Aunt Sue asked, “how long have you been hearing these voices?”.  They were a trip the two of them.  They were very different from each other but always got together and appreciated their relationship together and it often reminds me and my sisters. I can echo a lot what Louie said and I don’t have a bad memory with Grandma.  Aunt Sue said something to me.  She always knew who needed her.  She really showed up in all of the most important times and really knew I needed her because she was there for a lot of my life.  Grandma I hope I can always honor you and make you proud from Heaven.

Aunt Rita was a wonderful person and great Godmother to me.  I was seven years old and she and Uncle Shea bought me this baseball outfit.  It was the highlight of my life.  They bought me the gloves, spikes and the whole thing.  It had Tigers on it.  You got to be kidding me!  I was so enthralled with this outfit, but it was 100% wool and I slept in that damn thing.  My mother had to get me out of it.  I broke out in hives, but I refused to take it off.  It was unreal but I refused to take it off.  I wouldn’t even go to school the next day.  I was so engrossed with my seventh birthday, and I believed I made my first communion about the same time.  I never will forget that I lived near Charlevoix at the time and they came over and it was total surprise and I don’t think my mom and dad even knew about it but it is something I will always cherish.

I am not prepared for this at all.  I have not had a single bad memory with Grandma and at all.  I have awesome stories.  A couple of the best memories were when we went to Disney World at age 5 years.  Just came out of the Haunted Tower of Terror.  I wanted to ride it.  You get on it and it takes you up to the top of the Magic Kingdom on an elevator.  You see everything up there for about ten seconds and it just drops you down.  I hated it.  The next day I didn’t want to go back to it but everyone else did and Grandma went on it.  There is a picture at Aunt Sue’s I believe she has it.  I looked like I was going to pee my pants.  I remember the trips with her, my mom, and my sister I feel like they would have to put up every strip mall.  They were the same type of strip malls with the same kind of stores.  The pattern continues when we get to the destination point. You would be in the car and get to the shopping point.  I am really happy I got to go to Gatlinburg with her.  I know she had a great time going to the aquarium and to the mountains and everything.  I got to go to Saugatuck one last time and got to have ice cream with her one last time and the beach.  I am going to miss her a lot and I know everyone will miss her too.

Ginger’s luncheon blessing:
Our family is so grateful to all who supported us with their kind words, their love, their special memories and their great hugs.
This is such a sad farewell, but you can take comfort knowing mom is now warm in the arms of our Lord.  He has taken her back and he is shouting “Hallelujah” you are now home my dear Rita.
All who knew her know first hand the lovely, kind, generous woman mom was.  So I ask you this in her memory to love one another, forgive one another, and be kind to each other – help one another.  This is the legacy she would want for us to hand down to all future generations.
Oh, and one more important thing: Always leave room for dessert!
Now please join in with “Grace before meals”.  
Bless us O’ Lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to review, from thy bounty thru Christ Our Lord, Amen.

My condolences to the family, rest in peace, aunt Rita

Rita was a wonderful woman. I am so blessed that I , as Rachel Grady’s Mom have been able to get to know her.  She was so sharp! She got every joke or humorous comment.  We really enjoyed seeing her at Rachel and Tom’s gatherings.  I wish with her amazing history that she could have written an autobiography.  She was surely a gifted matriarch for her family.  I can see that she has been so loved! May she rest with the Lord. And may God bless her and her family!   She will be missed!

The last 20 years I've been telling Aunt Rita she was going to live to be 100 and sincerely believed that as she was so strong and resilient.  When I think of Aunt Rita I think of a strong, compassionate woman.  She endured everything life threw at her and kept moving forward when others may have  given up.    She lost two husbands.  Took care of Uncle Russ as he battled Alzheimer's.  She lost a Daughter and two Grandsons.  When her Mother passed at an early age she helped raise her siblings.  I'll never forget at my Mom's funeral as she sat there crying as many were and she pulled me close to her to pay a compliment to me and my sisters on how well we took care of Mom during her final days.  That's who she was.  In pain over the lost of her Sister but she went out of her way to pay us a compliment.  She always put others first.  She is a true Angel and will be missed.  And I can't say enough good things about her family, all of my cousins that were always there for her.  They are a great family that always sticks together.  Aunt Rita you were the best and are in God's hands now and back with your Sisters.  I love you and will never forget you.  God Bless you.  And to all my cousins I feel for you and your pain.  I don't have to tell you that you had a great Mom.  God Bless each and every one of you.
Richard

I remember meeting  Rita at our grandchildren’s engagement party and falling in love with her that very day. What a huge loss for your family. Heaven surly gained an angel. Rest in peace Rita, until we meet again.

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Rita M. Finn

7 septembre 1926 – 9 octobre 2025

A.H. Peters Funeral Home

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