Rita Marie Brandt

Rita Marie (Phares) Brandt passed away on November 8, 2019, surrounded by her loving family and her beloved dog, Harley.

Rita was born on May 19, 1964 in San Diego, California. She was the fourth child of William Dean and Rita Harriette (Yunker) Phares.

Rita graduated from Kearny High School in 1982 and got her Associates Degree in Child Development at Mesa Community College.

When Rita married DJ Brandt in 1995, she became an instant mother to Nakieta Marie and Talisa Ann, a role she embraced and adored for the rest of her life. Abby Suzann was born in 1996 and Sierra Faith was born in 2000, completing the family and bringing eternal joy to Rita's life.

Rita found her calling in life at an early age and worked for San Diego Unified School district for over 35 years as a Special Education Technician. Most of those years were spent at Lindbergh Schweitzer Elementary School, which was her home away from home. "Miss Rita" was always there to help anyone who needed it, but her true passion was working with children with special needs. She always referred to the thousands of children she helped and loved as "her kids."

Rita was active in the PTA, both as a staff member and for her daughter's schools. She had many, many friends who became her family and she loved them all.

Rita loved to garden. Her watermelon-sized zucchinis could feed a family for weeks! She also enjoyed scrapbooking and loved to cook meals for her friends and family and throw parties for her girls. Her "Family Game Nights" were legendary.

Rita gave blood as often as she could to the San Diego Blood Bank, donating many, many gallons of blood over the years.

Rita's passions were her daughters, her grandchildren, her extended family, her kids at school and her beloved dachshunds. She will continue to be missed by everyone who knew her and will always be remembered for her huge heart, shining smile, selfless generosity and her loving spirit.

Rita is survived by her four daughters: Nakieta (Levi) Pegram, Talisa (Chris) Hibbs, Abby (LeRoi) Barrett and Sierra Brandt; her grandchildren Brayden, Owen, Reagan and Wyatt; her Mom and Dad; her sisters and brother- in- law Julie, Vicky and Chuck; her nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews; Aunts, cousins; all of her friends who thought of her as a sister and all of the children she worked with, inspired and loved throughout her life.