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Rita Short (Rodemeyer)
Born: 4/17/1933
Died: 12/27/2015
Age: 82
Community: Flint, MI
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SHORT (RODEMEYER), Rita – Of Flint, age 82, was born in Chicago on April 17, 1933, beloved daughter of Martha Rodemeyer. At age 4, Rita was entrusted to the care of close friend Ethel Fluegel of Freeport, IL, while her mother awaited a transfer from The Salvation Army Hospital in Chicago where she worked. When Rita was 10, Martha was able to transfer to Detroit and have Rita with her full time.
Rita graduated from Western High and went on to the University of Michigan. Before graduating from UM, she married Tom Short Sr. Thanks to the U.S. government they toured Germany and returned home to complete their degrees and raise a family. Rita and Tom divorced in 1978. Rita taught briefly at Holy Redeemer Elementary School in Flint, and then continued her teaching career as a substitute teacher in the City of Flint. She went on to work at Chevrolet Manufacturing as an assembly person. Rita eventually received a full time position in the Department of Civil Rights for the State of Michigan, a position she kept for 20 years.
Her mother Martha, the Fluegel family, the Short family, her life long friend Edna Holland, MaryLou Owner and family, her “Extended Family,” her many friends with the Peace Movement and at the Unitarian Church sustained her. She had many friends in Flint whose love and support she treasured and was grateful to have. She took joy in her children, Tom Jr., Cam and Suzanne and their wonderful spouses. Rita was proud of the fact that they completed their educations and continue to enrich their lives with music and rewarding careers.
From 1997 to the present, Rita became involved with Burmese refugee support efforts in Flint, especially Wai Hnin Oo Naing and family, Thankyaw Htay and family, Khin Maung Toet and family, Dane and family and Yan Kyaw Aung. She was privileged to become their American “mother” and “grandmother” and experienced one of the most rewarding times of her life with them.
She is survived by her son, Thomas Jr. and his wife Serina Short of Fairhaven, MA and her two grandchildren, Kaia and Silje;
her oldest daughter, Cam and husband Gerry Camilli of Englewood, CO and her two grandchildren, Andrew and Gian; her great-grandson, Cosimos;
her youngest daughter, Suzanne and her husband Chris Sutton of Parker, CO and her grandson, Matthew and wife Ravon Libby and her two great-granddaughters, Carla and Adrianne.
Memorial Visitation 3 p.m. until the time of Memorial Service at 4 p.m. Wednesday, December 30, 2015 at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Flint, 2474 Ballenger Highway, Flint, MI 48507.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Memorial Garden at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Flint, the Humane Society of Flint or a personal cause of your choice.
Your condolences may be shared with the family at www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com
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| Visitation |
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12/30/2015 |
| Time: |
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3:00 PM |
| Memorial Visitation 3 p.m. until the time of Memorial Service at 4 p.m. Wednesday, December 30, 2015 at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Flint, 2474 Ballenger Highway, Flint, MI 48507. |
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| Funeral Service |
| Date: |
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12/30/2015 |
| Time: |
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4:00 PM |
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| Location: |
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Unitarian Universalist Congregation
2474 Ballenger Highway
Flint, MI 48507Get a Map to this location...
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