Rita Diane Rebbe Oden, BHS 1960Sept. 27, 1942 — Jan. 9, 2007
Rita Diane Oden, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend, was peacefully lifted up and released from her recent medical struggles and welcomed to God's eternal loving home Tuesday.
Rita leaves behind many loved ones, whose lives are forever changed through her examples of strength, Christ-like love and easy-going spirit. With mounting cancer trials later in life, Rita showed strength in the knowledge of her increasing illness and faced diversity with courage and optimism.
Rita was the second of five children born to Henry and Margaret Rebbe in Rock Springs, Wyo., where her father was employed as superintendent of schools. Her family later moved to Southern California in the early 1950s, where she graduated from Burbank High School in 1960. She attended the University of Southern California, majoring in microbiology. She met her soul mate, Clifford L. Oden, there and later married him on Sept. 12, 1964.
While moving from Southern California to New York during Cliff's employment, they raised three beautiful children together: Craig, Eric and Kimberli. The family was relocated to Brea, Calif., in 1970 when ARCO relocated their corporate headquarters to Los Angeles. From 1970 to 1989, both Rita and Cliff volunteered their time and energies to many community organizations and youth programs that their children participated in. The two were instrumental in the development and operation of the Brea Booster and Community Foundations, while spearheading the planning, development and eventual construction of the new modern, technologically advanced Brea High School.
When Rita's husband, Cliff, retired from Atlantic Richfield Company in 1985 due to health problems, they searched over the next four years for the perfect retirement home and community, eventually settling in Foster in 1989. Finding their dream home along side Foster Lake (Cliff thinks he's a fisherman), Rita and Cliff formed new friendships and became involved in many local community activities and economic development programs.
In 1990, they teamed up with Marge Gail and other community organizers in developing the Sweet Home Economic Development Group and the initial Oregon Jamboree, which today continues to benefit from their contributions.
Rita's talents were many, include cooking, card making, calligraphy, needlework, scrap booking and playing the electric piano. In addition to her God-given abilities to touch the lives of all she met, Rita's greatest accomplishments, memories and fondest moments came as a wife, mother and grandmother when preparing large festive meals on holidays and special occasions for the entire family and friends.
She lovingly devoted her life to the relationship she shared with her husband, Cliff, working side-by-side in accomplishing their shared interests and visions.Rita's presence in this life will be greatly missed. Her smile, charisma and simple ability to bring joy and meaning to all those around her will continue to flourish in the lives that she has touched and shall serve as an example of her everyday belief that our true life's prodding and highest calling along its path is to truly love one another.
Rita is survived by her loving husband, Clifford Lorance Oden; sons Craig Lorance Oden and Eric Douglas Oden; daughter Kimberli Jo (Oden) Schmidt; stepdaughter Michele Reichardt Robelen; adoring grandchildren Victoria and Katelyn Schmidt, and Danielle, Dominique and Desire Oden; sisters Bette Tillett and Lana Fredericks; brother Randall Rebbe; nieces and nephews Daniel and Dale Marks, Ted and Tim Oden, Debbie Tracy, Shannon Tillett, Cory Tillett and Erin Fredericks.
A private celebration of Rita's life will be at noon Saturday at her and Cliff's residence.Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements
Albany Democrat Herald January 12, 2007
No comments:
Post a Comment