Rita Marie Kurth

1927 - 2025

BORN

1927

DIED

2025

FUNERAL HOME

Tempe Mortuary - Tempe

405 East Southern Avenue

Tempe, Arizona

Rita Kurth Obituary

Name: Service for Rita Marie Kurth
Start: 2025-01-30T18:00:00.000Z
Location: Tempe Mortuary - Tempe

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother and grandmother, Rita Marie (O’Brien) Kurth. Rita Marie passed peacefully on January 16, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona. She was 97 years young. Born in Chicago on January 26, 1927, to Raymond and Regina O’Brien, she grew up with three sisters, Rosemary (O’Brien), Jean (Robinson) and Jeannette (Dainko).

As the most loving, caring, and devoted mother, along with her late husband, John, she raised seven boys, John, Dennis (Barbara), Terrence, Lawrence, Gerald (Katherine), Christopher (Karen) and Casey (Jacquie). She was also grandmother to seven children, Bailey, Mallory, Emilie, Thomas, Connor, Tucker and Mackenzie.

Her incredible life was a never-ending blend of helping others, sharing her love and commitment to the Catholic faith, and being compassionate and supportive to all. As a life-long Chicago Cubs and Notre Dame fan, she always tried to follow her favorite teams. And in her early twenties, she pursued her passion for flying by enrolling in private pilot lessons at Midway airport (until her parents found out!) Her adventurousness led her to take the family camping in many beautiful National Parks throughout the U.S. And she had boundless energy. Even after washing football uniforms, sewing new clothes and comforters, crocheting Afghan’s, and working full time, she always made it a priority to create great dinners for nine people daily.

She is missed already, and we are all eternally grateful for Rita Marie. God Bless her, and may she Rest in Peace forever.

Services will be held at Tempe Mortuary, 405 E. Southern Ave., Tempe, AZ 85282 on January 30, 2025 at 11:00am. Burial following at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Mesa, AZ.

Published by Iosco County News-Herald on Jan. 23, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Rita Kurth

5 Entries

Tom LaScala

January 30, 2025

Kurth Family,

I’m heartbroken to hear of Rita‘s passing. Ever since meeting Gerald (JK) and Chris 50 years ago in college, Rita always showed me kindness and welcomed me into their home. She can be proud to know that all of her sons treated me the same way, as we worked and recreated together in Arizona.

Thank you for the great memories Mrs. Kurth! Wishing you peace and love on your new journey with our Lord.

EnRico (Amy) Heirman

January 29, 2025

Kurth Family:

What a beautiful photo and reflections on your Mom’s amazing journey - 97 years strong - Wow! The Disney sweater was highly symbolic of her leading such a joyful life. Seven boys in the Family - she should be canonized!! It is easy to ascertain that Mr. and Mrs. Kurth were devout Catholics, and St. Joseph Grade School in Mishawaka was a definite beneficiary.

Mother Teresa often shared this meaningful quotation: “In this life we cannot always do great things, yet we can do small things with great love.”

Mrs. Kurth epitomized these words of wisdom through her warm heart, generosity, and kindness toward others. There was always an extra place setting for dinner at the Kurth Homestead, and a donut or a white icing long john from Kuss’s Bakery for dessert, even if a day old version. She had to be frugal in feeding nine plus. I trust all the sons remember rummaging through the bins at Ball Band for their personal pair of affordable Keds tennis shoes. Thankfully, no Jordan’s in those days!

I have such vivid memories of visiting the Kurth home on Chandler Blvd., better known as “Lovers Lane!” If you could ride your bike up that hill you had Superman strength in your legs, and going down that road you generated such great speed and had to feel blessed to be alive after riding right onto Bremen Highway.

The current HGTV Dream Home had to be modeled after the Kurth House. The place was a sanctuary for all who visited and the exterior amenities included a steep sledding hill in the back (several toboggans deceased), and a full court for basketball with one end regulation and the other goal much shorter for white boy dunking (chain nets). The lawns were manicured and I will never forget seeing the boys mowing with a rope tied to them and the other end being held by a brother up top. If you had the pleasure of spending the night in one of the bunks or trundle beds, Mr. Kurth had you up early on Saturday morning doing chores with everyone else - old school values were prevalent!

The interior was even more impressive and included a fireplace, a ping pong table, a pool table, a pinball machine, a slot machine, a bar, and even a Coke machine. The highlight was the keg of beer in the downstairs refrigerator that included a tap installed right through the door! I laugh when I recall seeing one of the older brothers trying to shake the keg attempting to determine the usage that occurred during a party while Mom and Dad were off camping at Turkey Run State Park.

Your Mom always welcomed everyone with open arms, and the room lit up when she walked into. Family was, indeed, everything to her.

Mishawaka was never quite the same after the Kurth’s moved to Illinois, and then to Arizona, yet the legendary memories are forever etched in our hearts and minds. JK, you have been a true lifelong friend and it was an honor playing together on our championship basketball team at St. Joseph’s (Mish), and our state championship in football at Marian. Please keep reminding Barnes, DeCicco, and your brothers who scored the winning TD!

Enjoy the Celebration of your Mom’s Life together. She had thoughts of getting her pilot’s license in her earlier years, yet she is now flying high and joining your Dad in Heaven. She was an inspiring woman and left the legacy of one of America’s Greatest Families! All of her sons ended up being highly successful. Kudos to All!

I will be lighting a candle at The Grotto of Notre Dame in her honor, as well as for the entire Kurth Family. Keep that fire burning and keep making a difference in this world!

Cheers and God Bless.

EnRico Heirman

Janet Tucker

January 29, 2025

So sorry to hear of your mom’s passing. What a blessed and challenging life she lived. She will live on in the memories and hearts of all who loved her!

Terry Trippel

January 24, 2025

So sorry to hear about the passing of your Mom Chris. My condolences to you and the rest of your family. I have many great memories of your mom and the times we spent together at your home on Chandler Blvd in Mishawaka. Even after you guys moved to Chicago we would come up and spend the weekend going to Cubs games and just hanging out. Your Mom and Dad would always have dinner for us and treated us like family. She will be greatly missed but her memories will live on through all of you.

Thomas Doyle

January 24, 2025

So sad to learn of the passing of Rita Kurth, who reared seven rambunctious boys, including my close childhood classmate and lifelong friend, Larry. I spent many happy hours as a child and teen at the Kurth family home on Chandler Blvd. in Mishawaka, a recreational paradise for any boy, all made possible by Rita and John Kurth. I always marveled at how Rita survived so long surrounded by 8 men, but she was strong-willed and good-humored, had an irrepressible faith, and was a loving mother to her seven sons and loving wife to her husband John. Her long and exemplary life should be celebrated; she was a lovely woman who touched and improved the lives of so many. May the many fond memories of Rita help comfort sons John, Dennis, Terry, Larry, Gerry, Chris and Casey and all of her extended family as they grieve her loss. RIP, Rita. In deepest sympathy, Tom & Jade Doyle

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