Rita Isabella Callaghan
June 24th, 1919 - March 25th, 2016
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Rita's Obituary
Rita Isabella Snyder Callaghan passed away at Countryside Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Friday, March 25, 2016. A celebration of Life will be held at the First Congregational Church of South Haven, Father Robert Flickinger, Celebrant on June 24 at 11:00 AM. Burial has taken place at Lakeview Cemetery, South Haven.
Friends may meet with the family at the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home on June 23 from 4 to 8 pm. You are invited to sign a Guest Book and “Share a Memory” with the family at FilbrandtFFH.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the Scott Club, 652 Phoenix St. South Haven, MI 49090.
Rita was born Rita Isabella Snyder on June 24, 1919 to Nickolas and Florence Snyder in the quiet little town of Metamora, Ohio, where everyone knew everyone else and where hard times plus strong love of family were the order of the day. Rita’s strong determination, love of sports, artistic ability and sense of humor sustained her throughout her long life.
After graduating from the Metamora High School, Rita Snyder left Metamora to attend Bowling Green State University, in Bowling Green, Ohio, where she graduated with a B.S. in Education. She taught school in Elementary Schools in both Ohio and Michigan for twenty-five years.
On October 2, 1948, Rita married John Dorsey Callaghan of South Haven, where subsequently followed the birth of a daughter, Anne Christine Callaghan and a son, Robert Nicholas Callaghan.
Rita Callaghan was a lifelong member of the South Haven Garden Club, a member and Past-President of the South Haven Scott Club, a member of Saint Basil Church, and a substitute teacher and librarian for many years following her retirement. She was a published member of the WRITERS, a branch of the Scott Club, and her creative fiction, poetry, and articles appeared in several magazines and newspapers. She also became one of the few lady magicians in the International Brotherhood of Magicians and enjoyed many years entertaining various school rooms and clubs and all “Children from Four to Ninety-Four”.
She is survived by her two children; Anne Christine Callaghan (Bill) Keith of Cadillac, MI; and Robert Nicholas (Aileen) Callaghan of Portage, MI; three Grandchildren, Julia Anne Kirklin (Gavin) Kentch, Sally Jo Callaghan (Aaron) DeVisser, and Daniel Robert Callaghan; four grandchildren, Willem and Tycho DeVisser, and Bridget and Audrey Kentch; and several nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband John D. Callaghan, (April 22, 1998) as well as her parents, sister Thelma LaFountain, two brothers, Maynard Snyder, and Leland Snyder, and one nephew, James LaFountain.
Friends may meet with the family at the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home on June 23 from 4 to 8 pm. You are invited to sign a Guest Book and “Share a Memory” with the family at FilbrandtFFH.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the Scott Club, 652 Phoenix St. South Haven, MI 49090.
Rita was born Rita Isabella Snyder on June 24, 1919 to Nickolas and Florence Snyder in the quiet little town of Metamora, Ohio, where everyone knew everyone else and where hard times plus strong love of family were the order of the day. Rita’s strong determination, love of sports, artistic ability and sense of humor sustained her throughout her long life.
After graduating from the Metamora High School, Rita Snyder left Metamora to attend Bowling Green State University, in Bowling Green, Ohio, where she graduated with a B.S. in Education. She taught school in Elementary Schools in both Ohio and Michigan for twenty-five years.
On October 2, 1948, Rita married John Dorsey Callaghan of South Haven, where subsequently followed the birth of a daughter, Anne Christine Callaghan and a son, Robert Nicholas Callaghan.
Rita Callaghan was a lifelong member of the South Haven Garden Club, a member and Past-President of the South Haven Scott Club, a member of Saint Basil Church, and a substitute teacher and librarian for many years following her retirement. She was a published member of the WRITERS, a branch of the Scott Club, and her creative fiction, poetry, and articles appeared in several magazines and newspapers. She also became one of the few lady magicians in the International Brotherhood of Magicians and enjoyed many years entertaining various school rooms and clubs and all “Children from Four to Ninety-Four”.
She is survived by her two children; Anne Christine Callaghan (Bill) Keith of Cadillac, MI; and Robert Nicholas (Aileen) Callaghan of Portage, MI; three Grandchildren, Julia Anne Kirklin (Gavin) Kentch, Sally Jo Callaghan (Aaron) DeVisser, and Daniel Robert Callaghan; four grandchildren, Willem and Tycho DeVisser, and Bridget and Audrey Kentch; and several nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband John D. Callaghan, (April 22, 1998) as well as her parents, sister Thelma LaFountain, two brothers, Maynard Snyder, and Leland Snyder, and one nephew, James LaFountain.
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