Rita C Hayes Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Rita Cecilia Hayes age 96 died peacefully on Friday December 11 at Sunset Village Nursing home where she was a resident for the past 6 ½ years. Born Rita Cecilia Fischbach to Cecelia and Joseph, Rita was raised in West Toledo. She graduated from Gesu Elementary School, St. Ursula Academy and Mary Manse College where she completed her Bachelor’s degree in music. Rita’s early career began at Champion Spark Plugs and then as a portrait of color artist for John Hopkins Studios. Rita then pursued her love of music by working for Great Lakes piano and becoming a music teacher. Her musical career lasted many years into her retirement, teaching until she was 88. She followed in the footsteps of her mother by teaching private piano lessons. She taught students in their homes and eventually taught students in her own home. Many of her students were in Old Orchard, Ottawa Hills, West Toledo, and the Sylvania area. At one point in her career, she had over 110 private piano students. Her greatest joy came when she taught a student with one arm to beautifully play the piano. Rita also taught music at St. Pius X, St. Patrick of Heatherdowns, and Washington and Jefferson Jr. High. She was a member of the Toledo Piano Teachers Association and the National Piano Teachers Association. In addition, Rita was a lifelong parishioner of Gesu Catholic Church where she was a former member of the over 50 club and choir. Rita was also a member of the Westchester Dance Club and The Beta Sigma Phi National Sorority. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband William, son Eugene, sisters Regina Janowiecki and Margarget Mossing and many sisters and brother-in-law’s. Surviving are her 5 daughters: Christine (Terrence) Flynn, Judith (Joe) Patitucci, Michelle Bauer, Marcia (Mark) Rubini, and Rita (Jake) Yoder. In addition she is survived by 9 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Rita was proud of her family and often commented that she didn’t know what she would do if she didn’t have her children. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a viewing (masks required) will take place on Saturday, December 19, 2020 at Gesu Catholic Church, Parkside Blvd, at 10:00 a.m., one hour prior to an 11:00 a.m. funeral mass. Final burial at Calvary Cemetery. Arrangements made through Ansberg West Funeral Home. To view the video of Rita’s Funeral Mass, please click here. Those wishing to make donations are asked to consider St. Ursula Academy or Gesu Catholic Church. The family would like to thank the staff at Sunset Village for the care they provided over the years.

Rita C Hayes

August 31, 1924 - December 11, 2020