Rita Werner Kasunic — Mom, Mum-Mum, Aunt Rita, died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 86, surrounded by family and her devoted caretakers at Sherwood Oaks, where she lived since 2009 with her husband of 62 years Joe, until his death in 2015. Previous to Sherwood, Rita lived a full and rewarding life in Freedom where, plain and simply, she continually did for others, whether family, friends or strangers. A pillar of St. Felix Roman Catholic Parish, she was active in a multitude of endeavors that spanned many years and touched even more lives.

Rita coordinated the altar servers, ironed all the cassocks and surpluses, played the organ at church, trained others to play the organ, was an active member of the Christian Mothers, Parish Council, Prayer Group, Annual Church Rummage Sale, cleaned St. Felix Church weekly, and so much more. As a doting mother, she ushered her boys to countless baseball and basketball games, play practices, and lessons. A graduate of St. Felix Grade School and Freedom High School, Rita worked as a bookkeeper for Bethlehem Steel as a young woman, and again later in life for her brother Bernie’s company, RMS. She loved her jobs and made many friends at both companies. Rita also looked forward to outings with her “birthday lunch group”.

What made Rita truly remarkable was her selflessness. Despite a limited budget, she cooked meals daily for her Dad, her Uncle, and even neighbors. When anyone in the neighborhood or Parish needed help, it’s a good bet they called on Rita. She was a skilled caretaker, a relentless laborer, a wise teacher, a best friend. She was a Mom to any who entered her home, which was always warm, filled with the sounds of music, singing, laughter, and with the sweet smells of dishes like chuck roast, lasagna, stuffed cabbage, slumgullion, sour green beans, scalloped potatoes, homemade pies, sticky buns, ginger snaps and more. All of it came with Rita’s wide smile, laughter, and singing that made her kitchen one of the best places on earth.

Most important to Rita was her family: her husband, sons, siblings, and grandchildren, but also every uncle, aunt, cousin, nephew, and niece, as well as the many friends she considered part of her family. She was incredibly proud of her five boys, who loved her dearly and will miss her sorely.

Rita was preceded in death by her husband Joseph Kasunic, her brother Larry Werner, her sister Patty Werner, and her parents Pauline and Chuck Werner. She is survived by her sister Kathleen (Bob) Millward, Clymer, PA; brothers Ray (Susan) Werner, Pittsburgh, and Bernard (Suzanne) Werner, Coraopolis; and her five sons Mickey, Freedom, Mark (Rosie), Sewickley, Tim (Paul Jednak), Ottawa Hills, OH, Jon (Mary Claire), Shadyside, and David (Michael D’Alba), Eagle Rock, CA, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will also be missed by scores of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

Friends will be received Friday, March 31, 2017 from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm in the Noll Funeral Home, Inc., 333 Third St., Beaver. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, April 1, 2017 at 10:00 am at St. Felix Roman Catholic Church, 450 13th Street, Freedom. A private interment will take place at Calvary Cemetery, Freedom. Online condolences may be shared at nollfuneral.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Felix Parish in honor of Rita Werner Kasunic, 450 13th Street, Freedom, Pa 15042.