Rita Deloa
May 22, 1935 — February 23, 2016
Rita Ramon DeLoa was born on May 22, 1935, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Rita was the third child born to Antonio Ramon and Paula Garza. Her siblings were John, Robert, Amelia, Maggie, Mary, and Freddie. Rita spent her childhood in Texas and in early 1953 she met Erasmo (Ed) DeLoa. They fell in love and married in April of 1953. Rita was only 17 and Ed was only 23. During the summer of 1953 Ed and Rita moved to Long Beach, California. On November 28, 1953, their first son, Anthony Raymond DeLoa, was born. Their second son, John Daniel DeLoa, was born not even a year later on November 17, 1954. On December 18, 1958, Rita gave birth to their third child, a beautiful baby girl, named Yvonne Patricia DeLoa Morales. Rita and Ed spent many happy years together raising their children. After their three children were grown and married, grandchildren soon followed. Their grandchildren are Barbi and Cari DeLoa; Lori DeLoa Robbins and Julie DeLoa Haugen; and Collette, David, Gabriel, and Rebecca Morales. Rita loved her grandchildren and spent countless hours with them. As much as she loved being a grandmother, Rita especially loved being a great grandmother. Rita's great grandchildren are Emma and Lily Smith; Isabella DeLoa and Xavier Womack; Mikayla and Ryan Robbins; Hudson Haugen; Noah Morales; and Isaac, Nielah, and Ivan Morales.
Rita and Ed were married for thirty-seven wonderful years until his death in April of 1990. Rita was devastated with the loss of her husband, but she found comfort with her children and grandchildren. She continued to work at the Long Beach City College Bookstore and after thirty-one years of employment, Rita retired in 2003. While working at the bookstore, Rita met Fernando Gongora and they were together for the past twenty-four years. Fernando stayed by Rita's side as her partner for many years until her health began to fail and then he became her primary caregiver.
On February 23, 2016, at 2:30 p.m., Rita DeLoa peacefully passed away with her family holding vigil by her bedside. She was surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren she cherished so much.
Rita DeLoa was loved by everyone who knew her. She loved to dance and was always the life of the party. Rita was always elegantly dressed and her hair, nails, and makeup were always flawless. Rita was an excellent cook and hostess and she always fed everyone who came to her house.
Rita will be greatly missed. She touched countless lives over the years. She was a loving and faithful daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. We all lost a wonderful person but heaven gained a precious angel.
Rita and Ed were married for thirty-seven wonderful years until his death in April of 1990. Rita was devastated with the loss of her husband, but she found comfort with her children and grandchildren. She continued to work at the Long Beach City College Bookstore and after thirty-one years of employment, Rita retired in 2003. While working at the bookstore, Rita met Fernando Gongora and they were together for the past twenty-four years. Fernando stayed by Rita's side as her partner for many years until her health began to fail and then he became her primary caregiver.
On February 23, 2016, at 2:30 p.m., Rita DeLoa peacefully passed away with her family holding vigil by her bedside. She was surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren she cherished so much.
Rita DeLoa was loved by everyone who knew her. She loved to dance and was always the life of the party. Rita was always elegantly dressed and her hair, nails, and makeup were always flawless. Rita was an excellent cook and hostess and she always fed everyone who came to her house.
Rita will be greatly missed. She touched countless lives over the years. She was a loving and faithful daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. We all lost a wonderful person but heaven gained a precious angel.
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