Dr. Rhua Ernst

ERNST

Dr. Rhua Catherine Ph.D.

Rhua Catherine Liska Ernst departed from us on May 16, 2015, after an extended, spirited fight with Alzheimer's disease. Rhua was born on May 18, 1939, in Toledo, Ohio the second daughter of three to Bernard and Reba Liska. She graduated from Libbey High School and went on to get her bachelor's degree from Mary Manse University, both in Toledo, Ohio. Rhua followed this up by receiving dual Master's degrees in Teaching and Library Science from the Ohio State University. Rhua started her career in education as a professor at the University of Toledo before becoming an elementary school teacher while starting her family. After several years of teaching she moved to Cos Cob, Connecticut where she was active in the League of Women Voters and the Democratic Party. Rhua's journey then took her to Wayne, Pennsylvania where she accepted the position of the Director of the Children's Hospital Library in Philadelphia. Her family then moved to a farm in Rosenhayn, New Jersey to rekindle her childhood love of horseback riding and enjoy the country life. While in Rosenhayn, Rhua won elected office twice to serve as the Deerfield Township Clerk and worked with her husband in the family business. After her divorce, Rhua moved to Wayne, New Jersey when she accepted the role as the Business Administrator for the Wayne Board of Education. While living in Wayne, Rhua returned to school and received her Doctorate in Education from Nova Southeastern University. Rhua returned to the farm in Rosenhayn upon retirement and enjoyed traveling and spending time with friends. Her family brought Rhua to Texas in the last two years as Alzheimer's was catching up with her. Rhua's life was described by her niece Marie, "I will always remember her as being larger than life. Witty. Sarcastic. Defiant. She was awesome."

Rhua was preceded in death by her father, Bernard G. Liska; mother, Reba (Dask) Liska, and son, Jay Allen Heckart. She is survived by her sisters, Beverly Graves, Jackie Cisterino; sons, Ronald, Erik; grandchildren; great-grandson; nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Liturgy and Committal will be held at Lambertville Cemetery, Bedford Township, Michigan at 10:00 a.m., August 1st. A mass will be offered at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, Lewis Avenue, Temperance, MI on Sunday, August 2nd at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Rhua's honor to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org.