Rita Mae Piper

Rita M. Piper, age 82, passed away March 28, 2021 in Castle Rock, CO. Born in Poughkeepsie, NY, Rita was a 1956 graduate of Poughkeepsie High School and later became a Nurse and licensed Phlebotomist. She worked for the medical office of Drs. Hanley, Pletcher, Wadhwa and Turk for nearly twenty years and was well known and beloved by many patients who took comfort in her presence. She was an exemplary nurse who loved her work so much that she often joked that she would gladly do it for nothing – “but don’t take me up on it”.

On March 21, 1957, Rita married her high school sweetheart, Bill, whom she started dating when she was fifteen years old. She and Bill lived most of their lives in Dutchess County, NY, but also spent several years of their retirement in Fort Myers and The Villages, FL. After Bill passed away in 2004, Rita moved back to NY and lived at Stone Ledge in Hyde Park, before moving to Castle Rock, CO to be close to her daughter and favorite (and only) son-in-law.

Everywhere she lived, Rita had many friends. Her down-to-earth nature and warm smile immediately put people at ease and she was well-liked by everyone who was lucky enough to meet her. She was a supportive friend, always available to lend a helping hand and willing to go along on medical appointments to help wade through the jargon. She loved playing games and introduced many of her neighbors and family to Mahjong, Mexican Train and Golf. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading, watching movies, crocheting, completing puzzles and exploring flea markets and yard sales. She was also a terrific cook and had a voracious sweet tooth. Most of all, Rita enjoyed spending time with her family. She loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren dearly and took great pleasure in being part of their lives and capturing as much of it as possible on film. Her extended family included many friends of her children and grandchildren, who readily took a liking to her and were happy to call her gramma, as she requested.

Rita is predeceased by her husband, Bill, her parents, Francis and Cora Stahli and her seven siblings: Buddy, Tootsie, Patsy, Larry, Charlie, Cathy and Bobby. She is survived by her three children: Frank (Melinda) Piper, Bonnie (Greg Ordoñez) Piper and Bill Piper, seven grandchildren: Heather (Ben) Witruk, Sarah (Brian) Smith, Hayley (Ryan) Slaughter, Libby Ordoñez, Jenny Ordoñez, Shelby Piper and Evan Ordoñez and six great-grandchildren. Rita is greatly missed, but lives on through the many happy memories of her friends and family.

Her family will host a celebration of her life at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, PLEASE make donations St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital, https://www.stjude.org/give/memorials-and-dedications.html or the Alzheimer’s Foundation, https://alzfdn.org/support-us/donate/ . The family requests that they DO NOT receive flowers. Thank You.