- Date Of Birth: June 14, 1944
- Date Of Death: May 13, 2016
- State: New Jersey
Rita M Stuhmeier, 71, of Little Silver, passed away on Friday, May 13, 2016 after a courageous battle with lymphoma cancer.
Born on June 14, 1944 as the youngest of three girls in the medieval town of Bocholt, Germany, near the Dutch border, Rita very early on in her life discovered her longing for adventure beyond the borders of her home country.
Rita put everyone else first without ever complaining, whining or giving herself up. She tackled life’s challenges or difficulties very pragmatically and directly. She was the personification of patience and caring. The words “fear” or “insecurity” were very foreign to her and not part of her vocabulary.
Whether it was being a counsellor in the high school’s career center, an official at one of her daughters’ many swim meets, or lending an open and sympathetic ear to friends and family, she was always deeply involved in her loved one’s lives. She was even called “mom” by her daughters’ friends. Rita was known for her energy, vivaciousness and wit. She hosted many parties and guests, doing most of the catering and event planning herself, without ever seeming stressed.
Rita was an avid reader.
Her main passion was always her family. She was always up-to-date on everyone’s lives everywhere, especially those of her six grandchildren. Being an “Oma” filled her with pride and not seeing them grow up is one big regret she expressed shortly before she passed away.
She is survived by her husband Jorn of 46 years, daughters Petra Griffith and Katrin Lindner and their spouses Doug Griffith and Eike Lindner, six grandchildren Chiara, Hendrik, Fritz, Mathis, Resi and Steffi, sister Elisabeth Goeddemeyer, sister-in-law Christel Ily, brother-in-laws Heribert Goeddemeyer, Kurt Eisel and Dieter Ily, nieces and nephews Kirsten Kienbaum, Andrea Pfeifer, Ruediger Goeddemeyer, Michael Eisel.
A special thanks to her niece Kirsten (and Thomas) Kienbaum and all the friends who helped with meals, rides and well wishes in the months of her cancer treatment.
She will NEVER be forgotten and has made a lasting impression on the lives of everyone she has met!
