Obituary for Rita H. Straubmuller
Rita H Straubmuller, of Denver, PA, passed away peacefully on Friday August 19, 2022, at The Gardens at Stevens. She lived a long beautiful life of 78 years.
Rita is survived by her husband Eugene (Gene) Straubmuller with whom she shared 55 years of marriage and their two daughters Marci, wife of Mark Kelly of Downingtown, PA and Lori, wife of Shimir Varia of Emerson, NJ, along with three incredible grandchildren, Max Kelly, Maggie Kelly, and Arjun Varia and a sister, Sandy Jacoby of Sayre, PA.
Rita was born in North Carolina on August 29, 1943 to Vincent and Joyce Halsey. They moved to Lakeville, PA where her father had the opportunity to buy into a coal excavating business and work for himself. She graduated from Lake Wallenpaupack High School and went on to the nurses training program at Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. Nursing was not a good fit for Rita so she left Brooklyn and attended Keystone Junior College where she received her associate degree in the Arts/Medical Administration. Upon getting her degree she moved away from home to Abington, PA, where she was employed by Abington Memorial Hospital working on arrhythmia heart studies (a federal government program). When the program closed Rita worked in Phila., PA, at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital for several doctors setting up new programs. Rita then had the opportunity to get a job locally at Detweiler Family Practice in Lansdale, PA, as the Office Manager for several doctors. From there Rita made a career change going into retail (Wanamaker’s, Strawbridge’s, Macy’s) in Reading, PA, where she received numerous awards for being the top sales associate and taking care of her customers. She returned to the medical field finishing her career at Ephrata OBGYN in various positions. She took all her jobs very seriously and was a diligent worker.
With that said, Rita would say her best job she had was being a mother and a wife. Gene and her two daughters, Marci and Lori were the most important part of her life and the devotion to them. She adored her grandchildren immensely and was always very proud of their accomplishments and enjoyed watching them grow into the people they’ve become. She was always more concerned with others than herself.
Rita was a spiritual women who enjoyed being involved in church, as well as her daughter’s extra curricular activities (singing and dancing, involvement in putting on musical productions, band competitions). She loved Aerobics and taught several classes part time. Liked playing cards and was a fierce competitor. And she LOVED gardening while her body allowed her to do it. Animals, oh Yes. Cats ( Casey, our last one of 15 years) dogs (Pepe) , and horses. Partial to cats. Her sister had horses and loved being around them when she could. And Rita was a beach person who enjoyed relaxing in a chair and watching the ocean with family and friends.
She loved taking care of her family, house, and gardens. Rita will be deeply missed by her family, friends and all who knew her.
A celebration of life is scheduled for 11:00 AM on September 24, 2022, at Roseboro Stradling Funeral Home, 533 Walnut St., Denver, PA.
Rita had a passion for health and well-being so in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) https://www.namikeystonepa.org/ and/or MHA (Mental Health of America) https://mhalancaster.org/about-mha/#who https://mhalancaster.org/about-mha/
Arrangements by Roseboro Stradling Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc., Denver.
Rita is survived by her husband Eugene (Gene) Straubmuller with whom she shared 55 years of marriage and their two daughters Marci, wife of Mark Kelly of Downingtown, PA and Lori, wife of Shimir Varia of Emerson, NJ, along with three incredible grandchildren, Max Kelly, Maggie Kelly, and Arjun Varia and a sister, Sandy Jacoby of Sayre, PA.
Rita was born in North Carolina on August 29, 1943 to Vincent and Joyce Halsey. They moved to Lakeville, PA where her father had the opportunity to buy into a coal excavating business and work for himself. She graduated from Lake Wallenpaupack High School and went on to the nurses training program at Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. Nursing was not a good fit for Rita so she left Brooklyn and attended Keystone Junior College where she received her associate degree in the Arts/Medical Administration. Upon getting her degree she moved away from home to Abington, PA, where she was employed by Abington Memorial Hospital working on arrhythmia heart studies (a federal government program). When the program closed Rita worked in Phila., PA, at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital for several doctors setting up new programs. Rita then had the opportunity to get a job locally at Detweiler Family Practice in Lansdale, PA, as the Office Manager for several doctors. From there Rita made a career change going into retail (Wanamaker’s, Strawbridge’s, Macy’s) in Reading, PA, where she received numerous awards for being the top sales associate and taking care of her customers. She returned to the medical field finishing her career at Ephrata OBGYN in various positions. She took all her jobs very seriously and was a diligent worker.
With that said, Rita would say her best job she had was being a mother and a wife. Gene and her two daughters, Marci and Lori were the most important part of her life and the devotion to them. She adored her grandchildren immensely and was always very proud of their accomplishments and enjoyed watching them grow into the people they’ve become. She was always more concerned with others than herself.
Rita was a spiritual women who enjoyed being involved in church, as well as her daughter’s extra curricular activities (singing and dancing, involvement in putting on musical productions, band competitions). She loved Aerobics and taught several classes part time. Liked playing cards and was a fierce competitor. And she LOVED gardening while her body allowed her to do it. Animals, oh Yes. Cats ( Casey, our last one of 15 years) dogs (Pepe) , and horses. Partial to cats. Her sister had horses and loved being around them when she could. And Rita was a beach person who enjoyed relaxing in a chair and watching the ocean with family and friends.
She loved taking care of her family, house, and gardens. Rita will be deeply missed by her family, friends and all who knew her.
A celebration of life is scheduled for 11:00 AM on September 24, 2022, at Roseboro Stradling Funeral Home, 533 Walnut St., Denver, PA.
Rita had a passion for health and well-being so in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) https://www.namikeystonepa.org/ and/or MHA (Mental Health of America) https://mhalancaster.org/about-mha/#who https://mhalancaster.org/about-mha/
Arrangements by Roseboro Stradling Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc., Denver.