On November 21, 2020 Rita Churchill, 73, of Seattle, Washington was reunited with her mother and father above along with her brother Tuno who all she greatly missed. They now can start their new journey together full of love, peace and happiness.
Rita Leon Valenzuela was born to Raymond B. Valenzuela and Carmen Leon on September 21, 1947 at Sacred Heart hospital in Hanford, California.
Rita leaves behind her husband and love of 43 years, Richard S. Churchill.
I wanted to start this out about the history of our family to give you some insight how this family has become a family. Mama had a first marriage and this was to Jacobo Saldana. Of this marriage came their first two sons, David and Adam Saldana. Mama Rita and Jacobo divorced but remained friends. This is where Mama Saldana (Norene) comes into the picture. Mama Rita actually helped plan Papa Saldana’s and Mama Saldana’s wedding. Mama Norene actually told me that she pretty much planned everything for them, including the reception. She said she could not believe how Mama Rita welcomed her into the family and how they became friends. Mama Norene said she also could not believe how inviting Mama Rita was. Mama Rita remarried to Richard S. Churchill and the same welcoming for Mama Norene was expressed to Papa Richard. This is not in any order but to help us move on to the next part of the family. Mama Saldana and Papa Saldana have 3 boys and 1 girl. This is where Rebecca, Andrew, Daniel and Jacob come into the family. Mama Rita and Papa Richard also have a girl named Rachel and she comes into the family, born the same year as Daniel. We all become one big blended family and grow up together, separate at times but still a family. I wanted to share some of this with you to just try and help you understand what kind of a person Mama Rita was, her loving and welcoming heart made us the family we are today. The family that we are still learning, growing and trying to be. It started with Mama Rita and will continue beyond Mama Rita. She planted that seed of love, warmth, and open heartedness that will carry on forever. The family is growing but there is also more. I want to mention the Valenzuela family who reside in Arizona. Mama Rita leaves behind her five siblings. This includes her sisters Helen, Annie, Ronnie, and Lola, along with her brother Rudy. They have always been a part of our life, but as we have grown older we are trying to communicate more and be a part of each other’s lives. I also would like to mention the Saldana/Navarro side of the family who reside in Texas, Mexico, and California. Our love goes out to everyone, family, friends, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Mama Rita will and always will be thinking of us all.
Mama Rita memories: cleaning while dancing around with music playing and singing along, her laughter, her welcoming, warm and open heart, her love for anyone family, friends, or strangers. She also loved Diet Coke or Coke Zero, her tacos, and her big smile was always positive.
Mama Rita Loved: singing, dancing, laughing, SCI-FI, talking on the phone, cooking for family, salsa, she also loved dearly her 2 granddaughters Mataya and Raivin and lived for them every day.
Her success was not work, money, or success…
That is a measurement in our world but I do believe that Mama Rita’s success was in family, love and the biggest heart in the world. I realize now what her message was…. FAMILY.
We Love You
For those who would like to attend the memorial service, but are unable to, it will be available via livestream at the following link:
https://www.oneroomstreaming.com/view/authorise.php?k=160767622089901
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18