Rita passed away peacefully in her home on Saturday, August 20, 2011. She is survived by her husband Ausencio Campos; her children: Reynaldo, Marina, Blanca, Gloria, Laura, Jose, William, Andy, Abelina and Daniel. She was preceded in death by her oldest son Abel. Other surviving members include her sons-in-law Gonzalo Valverde, Joel Orona, and Scott Overpeck, her daughters-in-law Patricia Campos, Linda Campos, Felicitas Campos, her 11 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and her siblings Salud Arias, Zenaida Delgado and Elena Gaona.
Rita was born in Mexico. She was raised in San Nicolas Obispo and married there. He parents Saturnino and Inez Arias taught her about hard work and provided her with a parental education of great moral values. Rita instilled in her children the same values of having impeccable moral behavior and a hard work ethic.
On June 30, 1960, Rita arrived in Hollister with her six Mexican born children. She emigrated legally with her children to join her husband Ausencio and raised her children amidst challenging economic times. She raised children who eventually ended up working in the professional world, due to her never ending support. She modeled perseverance, a character of strength and being happy “por lo que Dios nos ha dado” for what God has given us.
Rita was always the rock on which her children stood. She provided them with security and love all around. In the early l970’s Rita received Jesus Christ as her personal savior and from then on it was all about prayer for her 11 children. She lived a life of faith and was an encouraging and praying parent until the day she passed away.
Rita enjoyed cooking, sewing, gardening, but above all she enjoyed being surrounded by her children. She was a woman of great laughter and at the end of her life she enjoyed watching the most famous and most watched all over the world Mexican comedy show “Chavo del Ocho,” and classic Mexican movies that she became acquainted with during her youth.
Rita’s memory will live on in the hearts of her beloved husband, children, grandchildren, relatives and others who loved her.
Services will be at Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home Friday, August 26, 2011, at 12:00 noon.
