Eulogy given at Rita's Funeral by friend and co-worker, Sarah."I am Sarah and I had the honor and pleasure of working with Rita at Exclusively Diamonds for the last 10 years. When I first met Rita, she was a customer of the store. She had long hair that curled all the way down her back. She had beautiful nails, lots of jewelry and a style about her that was fun and sassy. Rita continued to buy jewelry from us, until one day she said if you ever need someone, I would love to work here. At that time she was working for an attorney and another jewelry store. So soon she became part of our team.
Immediately, the office dynamics changed. Rita was no wallflower! Everyday she would come to work with amazing energy and zest. Humor, sarcasm and one-liners that would zing out of her (mostly that were R-rated) made it a crazy and fun atmosphere.
This woman had an amazing passion for jewelry. She loved diamonds, she loved gold, she loved rubies she loved emeralds, she loved topaz she loved citrine, she loved classic, she loved edgy and high fashion. Every time a sale rep would enter the store with his or her line, Rita would be in the conference room owing, awing, choosing and buying. She just absolutely saw the beauty in all kinds of fine jewelry. And almost every time she would say, “Rita needs this,” and she would choose a piece specifically to wear with her other jewelry. She would also hand select jewelry for certain clients that she felt they needed. Her fingers were filled, her wrists were filled and her neck sported two to three pendants. She had diamonds in her ears, diamonds around her ankles and on her toes. She loved the piling on of diamonds, gemstones and gold. We called her the “Queen of Layering.” If a sales rep came in to Exclusively Diamonds on her day off, we would call her and say, “There is a Rita ring here….you better come in!”, and she would!
Rita had a style about her that no one else will be able to touch. It was sassy and direct. As one customer put it, “She could sell me my own car.” When Rita told someone they needed it……they bought it. She loved working with people and would shine when she was selling jewelry. She loved to tease and sass off to customers. Sometimes I would pull her a side and say, “Rita…..that is probably not appropriate to talk to our customers like that!”…..she would say, “Ok Sarah, I’ll try to talk nicer.” Then she’d go right back to zinging out the one-liners and being sassy.
I remember the Christmas Rita worked when she thought she had the flu. Her stomach hurt, and she said, “I don’t have time to go in to the doctor….I need to work the store!” She loved to work at the store. After Christmas, she was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer. Her family was shocked. We were shocked. Rita was devastated.
From the start of the diagnosis thru 8 ½ years later, Rita stated that she was not going to let cancer define who she was. She chose to fight this disease every step of the way.
Rita had a number of surgeries. The doctors would tell her to take off six to eight weeks after each one. I remember one major abdominal surgery she had, over in Rochester, on a Monday. Rich brought her home on Friday and she showed up for work that following Monday. She said she had rested over the weekend as was ready to come back. Her passion for her work was incredible.
During her chemo treatments she developed a craving for beer. No more fruity strawberry daiquiri drinks for this girl! It was beer she craved! It is customary at the jewelry store to celebrate birthdays with a special lunch for everyone. Rita said, “This year for my birthday I want a keg of beer!” So my husband, Chris, brought over a keg, set it right next to Rita’s desk and she sipped on tap beer all day - talking smart. She would invite customers to come back to her desk… pumped the keg, poured them a tap beer and proceed with celebrating her birthday.
Rita let us try on her hats and her wigs. One day she pranced around the jewelry store sporting a tiara on her bald head.
Humor was always present.
Rita liked to use the “Cancer Card” when it got her special privileges. Correct procedure when you sell a diamond is to give it to Stephanie, our bench technician, so she can schedule it to get set. Stephanie controls the flow of jobs for our goldsmiths. Rita would want her diamonds set first so she would go directly to Scott, Kathy or Doug, our goldsmiths, and say, “Could you set this 2 carat right now for my customer? You know I have cancer.”
Cancer gave Rita tools for her life that she never new she had. She developed a compassion that was unmatched. She connected with people in a powerful ways that gave them strength and hope. She taught people who were on the journey to Live, Love and Laugh. They would come into the store to see this woman of great passion and purpose.
Rita designed a butterfly pendant to raise awareness for cancer. Her mission in life was to bring cancer to forefront of everyone’s minds by sharing the journey of cancer with others. She was passionate about empowering women to be vigilant about their bodies, seeking medical tests and advice. She warned NOT to ignore the signs that their bodies are giving them. Her Butterfly of Life pendant became known throughout the area. A portion of each butterfly sold goes directly to cancer research and education. The ButterflyofLife.com website will now sell Rita’s butterflies globally. Her goal is to raise 1 million dollars for cancer research and she made Briana and me promise to get that done for her.
Rita made every moment count because she knew she couldn’t take for granted a lifetime of memories with her family, whom she loved and valued more than anything in this world. Her husband Rich, her daughters, Sharry, Sarah and Becky, her son-in laws, Tom, Felix and Chuck, her sisters Sharon, Sandy, Karen and her brother Keith. But more than anything, the light of her life was her grandchildren, Zach, Luke, Jordan and Brock. She loved telling stories about them and spoiling them with anything their hearts desired.
Rita said her faith in God was what kept her spirits high. The love and support she received from all of you was what kept her journey so meaningful.
Her last days were spent in hospice at St. Peter. The nurses had never seen a hospice patient go to work! Rita would wheel into the store all dressed up, sunglasses on, dripping with jewelry, socks for shoes and would say, “Hello everyone, sorry I’m late. I’m in rotation. It’s my turn to go help someone. I may duck out early today as I’m feeling a little tired.” Then she would leave after an hour or two and say, “See you tomorrow.”
Rita’s favorite saying was from Mark Twain:
“Dance like nobody’s watching,
Love like you’ve never been hurt.
Sing like nobody’s listening and
Live like its heaven on earth.”
Dear Lord,
Thank you for giving us this beautiful, spirited woman. Please keep her passion and legacy alive in our hearts, as we will all miss her dearly. And Father, if you have diamonds in heaven, please let Rita wear a lot of them, so that she can shine and sparkle, just like she did on here earth. Amen"
At the grave site, 100 monarch butterflies were released in Rita's honor. We will miss you Rita.
