Obituary of Rita J. McLeland

MUNROE FALLS – The physical life of Rita J. McLeland departed this world on October 10, 2015, while her soul went to rest in the presence of God, awaiting the Great Resurrection Day into newness of life in Heaven. Born to Ernest and Ruby Choate on March 30, 1928, she is survived by her husband Joseph C. McLeland, of nearly 69 years, and survived by her daughter Martha J. Meeker (Vincent), granddaughter Jennifer Marburg and great-grandson William John Marburg, now almost 3 years old. She was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Cheryll McLeland Murawski, her son Timothy McLeland, some years ago, and recently by her brother Ernest Choate, Jr. Rita was a loving person and was much loved by her husband and many people both young and old, and had several lifetime friends with whom she kept in contact over the many years. She loved to be of help to any in need by going to their homes to cook, clean and care for young and old persons, giving aid and comfort by a loving “on hand touch” in whatever care was obviously needed. For a few years she chose to care for foster children at her home, one of which was son Timothy, who was adopted by her and her husband. She was a “giving” person engaged in such service to others over a long number of years. Rita had been employed for a time with Goodyear Aircraft when single and, after being married, with the local Haven of Rest Ministries and for a time with the Stow Kent Animal Hospital. More recently she had been a hostess at the Cathedral Buffet under the management of Rex Humbard Ministries. In Christian church activities she and her husband were once youth leaders and Sunday school teachers to youth in their more youthful days. Later, they were lead to two different protestant church ministries to serve as volunteers in special ways where her cooking skills were used to feed large number of people occasionally. In one church in particular that conducted frequent seminars on training attendees how to lead a home Bible study group, she was in charge, as a deaconess, feeding noon meals to those attending the three day seminar. As to her involvement in social/civic like organizations, she was an active member for some period of time with the Stow Women’s Garden Club, where she lived, the local chapter of the American Cancer Society who sent her out to give talks to various groups including college students on certain health issues like the danger of tobacco smoking, using screen projected color slides of blackened lungs of persons who had died of lung cancer. She also served with the Haven of Rest Women’s Ministry and was a Brownie Girl Scout mother having two young daughters, so involved. The bodily showing and funeral service will be held at the Redmon Funeral Home, Stow, Ohio on Thursday and Friday. The viewing during the hours of 6 to 8 pm on Thursday and the remembrance celebration service Friday at 1 pm, conducted by Rita’s chosen favorite pastor and long time family friend, Rev. L.E. Sutherland. Burial will be at Greenlawn Cemetery, on Romig Road, Akron, Ohio. Her last many days were fraught with debilitating pain causing her to cry out to God to take her life. And under the very good care at the nearby Hospice Care Center, in her last few days relief from her pain was accomplished till she died of natural causes.