Rita Rush was born on September 11th, 1965, in St. Petersburg FL. The tenth of twelve children, she grew up in a house filled with laughter, love, and a little bit of chaos. Rita was a beautiful, beaming young woman with a talent for ballet; en pointe, she measured a stunning six feet. In 1990, she graduated from The University of Florida with a Bachelor’s in Advertising. She never missed a Gator Game. Rita went on to raise two children, Lila and Caroline, whom she esteemed her most precious gifts. A connoisseur of colorful hats, people came to know her as “the hat lady” at Sunday mass. To strangers, she would always lend a hand; to friends, boundless empathy and support, laughter, and hugs; and to her family, a love indescribably strong and true. She battled cancer in her 40s, and again in her 50s, but always with a smile on her face. She passed away from metastatic breast cancer on October 11th, 2021, her children by her side. Rita’s compassion, generosity, and remarkable bravery will live on in the hearts of all who knew her, strangers and friends alike.
