Rita Mary Butz

Rita Mary Butz, of Larksville, was welcomed into heaven for the eternal game of pinochle on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017.

She lived a long life, even though she would never reveal just how long, so we won't spoil it here.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley Butz; parents, Frank and Mary Kizelowicz Galicki; sisters, Aurelia Galicki, Sebina Sokoloski and Loretta Nutaitis; and countless friends. We are comforted knowing that she was welcomed into eternal rest by so many that she deeply missed.

Rita was born and raised in Glen Lyon, where she graduated from Newport Township High School. She loved to reminisce about the good old days on Orchard Street. She spent the last 23 years living with her son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren.

Rita was always the life of the party and had a contagious spirit, the first to tease or joke but the last to pass judgment. She was a "goofball" in every sense of the word, always trying to make people laugh or shock them with her stories and her love of tall, dark, handsome men.

She worked most of her life as a seamstress and enjoyed making homemade clothes and costumes for her grandchildren.

She loved playing cards with the ladies at Trinity House and Happy Pizza, her favorites being pinochle and her own creation of the card game "garbage." Her purple car, affectionately known as the "Babci Mobile," never went unnoticed, especially with her Polish pride bumper sticker. She enjoyed teaching her family her Polish and Lithuanian heritage with songs, prayers and cuisine such as halushki, sausage and peppers and, of course, her famous Babci's bread.

Her happiest days were when it was raining or snowing. You could often find her on the front porch with a book or having a beer with her son, always keeping an eye on the neighborhood. If she was not on her porch, she could be found in her room watching polkas surrounded by her possibly close to 100 moose collection.

To many she was just known as Babci and was like a grandmother to many others than just her own grandchildren. Her true joy was her three great-grandchildren who, although they only had a short time with her, know the "hole" she has left in the family's hearts.

Rita will be deeply missed by her son, Damian Butz and his wife, Ann; her daughter, Daria Hill and her husband, Jeff; grandchildren, Kristina Bartos and her husband, Justin, Ashley Shaffern and her husband, Justin, Shelby Butz and Zachary, Jacklyn and Andrea Hill; great-grandchildren, Zakary, Adeline and Zoey; brother, Ralph T. Galicki; as well as her numerous nieces and nephews.

Unfortunately, in heaven there is no beer, so we will have one for you here Babci, Nostrovia!!!!

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in All Saints Parish, 66 Willow St., Plymouth. Family and friends may call at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of service and are invited to attend the Mass. Private interment will be in St. Michael's Cemetery, Glen Lyon.

Arrangements are by George A. Strish Inc. Funeral Home, 105 N. Main St., Ashley.