Rita Vela

Rita Dianne Stacy, 84 originally from Crystal Falls Michigan passed away after a hard-fought battle with lung cancer on Saturday April 1, 2023 at her home in Gulf Breeze, Florida.
She was born May 12, 1938 in Crystal Falls, Michigan to Edmund and Dorris (Cummings) Stacy. Rita graduated from Crystal Falls High School in 1956. After graduation she moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida where she met her husband, William Halenkamp. In 1961, the two were married and started their family. Rita spent the next 15 years taking care of her children and her home. In the 1980's when her children were older, she went on to work in the yacht repair industry for 10 years, before becoming a realtor for the next 10 years. For the last 20 years, Rita was able to retire and travel the country visiting with her children and grandchildren often.
Rita was a frequent church volunteer for the local Catholic parish of St. Helen's. Rita enjoyed playing tennis, and was a long-time member of the Fort Lauderdale Tennis Club. She enjoyed other sporting events and never missed an opportunity to cheer on the NFL Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos.
She is survived by her son Timothy (Lorri) Halenkamp and Michael (Karen) Halenkamp; her sisters Naomi Phillips and Bernadette Wolff; and eight grandchildren Matthew, Erik, Morgan, Nicole, Sean, Lauren, Rachel, and Celeste.
In addition to her parents, Rita was preceded in death by her four brothers Vincent, Hubert, Timothy and Eugene; and sisters Eldora (Sr. Honora), Monica, Jane, Catherine, and Corine.
A committal service will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. on Friday June 16, 2023 at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Crystal Falls, Michigan.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the ARC-Gateway Pensacola, or the American Cancer Society in her memory.
The family has chosen the Jacobs-Plowe Funeral Home, Crystal Falls, to honor Rita's legacy of life.
You may light a candle in remembrance of Rita or leave a condolence for her family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com.