Rita A Dennis

Rita was born in Medina, Ohio to Andrew and Ruth Deiss on September 30, 1935. She married Donald Dennis on November 18, 1961, in Medina, Ohio. Rita performed with the Cleveland Metropolitan Opera company. With a strong background and passion for music, she became a piano teacher and taught many students for over fifty years.

Much of Rita’s free time was dedicated to the Catholic Church. She played a key role in the Adult Bible Study at both St. Paul’s and St. Timothy’s Catholic Churches. These classes were strongly influenced by her work, and they continue on today. Her love and passion for the church was known by all who knew her. Outside of the church, she enjoyed spending time at the barn riding and showing American Saddlebred horses.

Rita is preceded in death by her parents Andrew and Ruth Deiss, her husband Donald Dennis, and her son Douglas Dennis.

She also loved spending time with her family and is survived by her son Daniel (Darla) Dennis, brother John (Laurel) Deiss, grandchildren Ben Dennis, Sara (Grady) Bridges, Victoria (August) Short, and Andrew Dennis, as well as great grandchildren Kennedy Short, Corbin Bridges, and Lincoln Short.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Friday June 17, 2022 at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church 17512 Lakeshore Road, Lutz, Florida 33558. A reception will be held at 12:30, following the mass, at Blount & Curry Funeral Home 3207 Bearss Ave, Tampa, Florida 33618.