Rita Walberga Tomko

Rita W. Tomko of Parma, Ohio, passed away peacefully in her sleep on February 6, 2026, at the age of 99, just three months shy of her 100th birthday. Rita lived a long, full, and grace-filled life defined by devotion to her family, her faith, and the quiet joys of caring for others.

Rita was the beloved wife of the late Harry Tomko, her husband of 69 years, and a loving and devoted mother to Carol Newman; Charlette Conn (Thomas); and Michael J. Tomko (Martha Cowdery). She was a cherished grandmother to Jacqueline Cohagan (Mitch) and Jennifer Aschenbener (Jason), and a proud great-grandmother to Owen and Jack Cohagan, with a great-granddaughter Aschenbener eagerly awaited later this month. Rita was also a loving aunt and a dear friend to many, all of whom will miss her warmth and gentle spirit.

Born on May 27, 1926, to Mary and Joseph Kohoot, Rita was the youngest of five sisters and one brother, all of whom preceded her in death. She attended Rhodes High School, where she enjoyed choir, music remaining a lifelong joy, and home economics, where she learned to sew her own clothes. Those skills later became acts of love, as she created clothing and toys for her children. Rita's Catholic faith was a cornerstone of her life and a steady source of strength and purpose.

Rita worked as a waitress at the Stouffer's Restaurant Corporation in downtown Cleveland, where her artistic talent shone through in the flower arrangements she designed for the restaurant's windows. Her love of flowers and gardening stayed with her throughout her life and was beautifully reflected in the colorful, thoughtfully planned gardens she and Harry created around their home.

After high school, Rita met Harry Tomko following his return from service in the United States Air Force. They married in 1951 at St. Leo's Catholic Church and soon welcomed their first daughter while living in Cleveland's Old Brooklyn neighborhood. A few years later, they moved to Parma, Ohio, where they made their home for 65 years and raised their family. Rita loved her home, her church, and above all, the gift of being a mother. She worked alongside Harry, designing ideas he would bring to life as they built the home they loved.

Rita was always involved in her children's lives, serving as a Scout den mother, chaperoning school trips to the zoo, and faithfully driving her children to swim lessons at Estabrook Recreation Center. She enthusiastically supported her children's love of music, providing lessons at home and at school, attending countless practices, and making trips across town to the Cleveland Institute of Music and to concerts throughout Northeast Ohio. Her encouragement was steady, proud, and unwavering.

Staying active was important to Rita throughout her life. She did floor calisthenics at home for decades and later became a member of Vic Tanny and, in her senior years, LifeWorks, where she enjoyed swimming and weight-lifting classes. She was a bowler, a golfer, and even tried cross-country skiing. After Harry's retirement, Rita delighted in traveling, enjoying annual Royal Caribbean cruises for more than a dozen years.

Later in life, Rita embraced her role as a grandmother with boundless love. For nearly 20 years, she vacationed each summer with her granddaughters in Myrtle Beach. She proudly attended their high school and college graduations, celebrated one granddaughter's wedding in person, and watched the other's remotely with joy. Becoming a great-grandmother brought her immense happiness, and she treasured every moment with her great-grandsons while eagerly awaiting the arrival of her great-granddaughter.

Rita's strength, determination, and positive outlook carried her through hip and knee replacements and other injuries later in life, yet she remained remarkably healthy and resilient. In 2019, she became a resident of Mount Alverna Village Assisted Living, where she truly thrived, enjoying the many activities, especially those involving art or a little friendly competition. After a fall in July 2025, she moved to Ancora at Mount Alverna Village, where she spent her final months happy, engaged, and surrounded by care. She attended daily Mass, loved being with others, and participated enthusiastically in activities. Rita remained cheerful and kind to her last day, a joy to all who knew her.

Rita Tomko will be remembered for her deep love of family, her faith, her creativity, her strength, and her generous heart. She will be deeply missed and forever loved. Her legacy lives on through the family she loved so deeply.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 5891 Ridge Road, Parma, Ohio. Friends will be received on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at Busch O'Connor Funeral Home, 5904 Ridge Road, Parma.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rita's memory to Ancora at Mount Alverna Village, 6763 State Road, Parma, Ohio 44134.

(440)842-7800 www.buschcares.com