Rita Chaves Aves

A celebration of her life will be Saturday, December 19, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1800 W. Freeway, Fort Worth at 10:00 AM.

Rita was born in Dallas, TX, January 4, 1949, to Joe and Dorothy Chaves. From the very beginning, Rita was passionate for God’s word. Her parents modeled the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus and learned how to share her passion for Christ with others naturally.

A long time resident of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Rita graduated from North Dallas High School in 1967 and then attended North Texas State University. She met her husband, William “Bill” Aves, III, on a blind date at age 15. Rita and Bill married on March 28, 1969. She loved living life with him as they traveled to new places while he was in the Navy. They eventually settled in Arlington, TX, where they raised their three children, Ashley, Britany, and Will.

In their 52 years of marriage, Bill and Rita were inseparable. They led the youth group at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Arlington, TX, strengthening their faith and the faith of others through service and shepherding. Rita and Bill prayed daily on their knees for their family and friends. When they had time together they enjoyed snuggling on the couch watching movies, spending time with their children and grandchildren, and when they could get away, taking early morning walks on the beach.

Rita loved meeting people. She was a true friend and served others with her talents and skills. She was known for her exceptional work ethic, outgoing personality, and attention to detail. She worked for many years as the Associate Publisher for Energy Communications, Inc. She then spent some time as a Marketing Representative for the Texas Jewish Post, where she found the name that her grandchildren lovingly called her, Bubby, Yiddish for grandma. After fighting and winning a battle with breast cancer in 2003, Rita spent time nannying her grandson JJ and helped other working parents by loving and caring for their children. She worked as a Property Manager for Stream Realty at the Oil, Gas, and Star Telegram Buildings in Fort Worth, TX for many years. She loved her job, her Stream Realty team, and the tenants and vendors of the building, and they loved her. She called her work her “tent making”, but her passion was to share with both young and old the joy of knowing and putting into practice the living Word of God.

Rita shared her hope in the Lord with everyone she met. For over 20 years she was a witness to countless women as a Bible Study Fellowship Teaching Leader and a Canaan Friend to the Sisters of the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary, and she shared her love for Christ through her ministry as the toddler Sunday School teacher at St. Paul Lutheran Church for over 30 years.

Despite her family’s sadness of their sudden loss of their wife, mother, and Bubby, who they love more than words can express, they have hope in the promise that she is rejoicing in heaven, and as her 6 year-old grandson said “Bubby LOVES heaven!”

She was preceded in death by her father, Joe Chaves and niece Natilie Chaves.

Survivors: Husband, William “Bill” Leonard Aves III; daughters, Ashley Beeson and husband Jim (JJ and Jonathan), Britany St.Clair and husband Chris (Lukas and Natalie); son, William “Will” Aves IV and wife Lauren (William “Liam” Aves V); mother, Dorothy Chaves; brother James Chaves, sister Barbara McVay and husband David, and many nieces, nephews, and dearly loved friends near and far.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rita’s memory to the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary USA, www.canaaninthedesert.com.