Ms. Rita Dietrich of Simi Valley died in her home on December 25, 2018.
Rita is survived by her sister, Catherine Smith of New York. She is preceded in death by her husband, John Dietrich; her daughter, Carolyn Eddy; her sisters, Carolyn Haughey and Sr. Jean Smith; her brothers, Joseph and William Smith; and her parents, William and Elizabeth Smith.
Rita was born on December 16, 1933 in New York City. She attended Edgewood College in Madison, WI. After graduation, she started her career teaching in New Rochelle, NY. She continued her education earning her Masters from Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City. She then married her husband, John, and moved with their daughter, Carolyn, to California.
After her husband’s passing, in the early 1980s, Rita went to work for the Army Corp of Engineers and stayed with them until her retirement.
One of Rita’s true joys was singing, especially with the choir at St. John Eudes. One of the many highlights was singing at Carnegie Hall back in her childhood home of New York City.
There will be a viewing at Crawford Mortuary, Northridge on Thursday, December 27, 2018 from 5-9 PM. A funeral mass is scheduled for Friday, December 28, 2018 at 10:30 AM at St. John Eudes.