Rita DiLoreto Hebrew

Born December 4, 1930, Rita DiLoreto Hebrew, age 89, passed away April 29, 2020, with her family by her side. Her parents were Mary and Benny DiLoreto of Tiltonville, Ohio.

Rita attended Warren Consolidated High School leading the band as drum majorette. Rita went to business college excelling with her secretarial skills. (She could type 75 words a minute). This landed her a job as Secretary to General Robert Marsh at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. She had a level six federal security suitability clearance.

At Wright-Patterson she met handsome Lieutenant Cecil Hebrew from Paonia, Colorado. They married May 22, 1957.

Upon the arrival of two daughters Benni and Cecilia, Rita became a stay at home mom.

In 1970, she returned to work becoming Secretary to the Superintendent of Willow Run Public Schools. In the same school district she worked for many years with emotionally impaired children, ending her career as an elementary librarian.

In her retirement she enjoyed  Bingo, Mexican Train dominoes, motor cycling, traveling with Cecil in their Piper Cherokee 6 airplane, hot tubbing, downhill skiing, couples dance roller skating, and dancing of any kind.

Throughout her life, she was fortunate to travel to Berea, Italy, five times to visit relatives. She tried and tried to learn Italian and did master an understanding of the spoken language.

Rita never knew a stranger and was noted for her hospitality. "Come on over, anytime" was her invitation to friends. And she meant it. There were always banana ice cubes in tall glasses, to which 7-up was added, served with a long ice tea spoon. Often, the shady yard at 303 Poplar was a popular the place for mingling.

Rita hosted numerous friends in her yard to see the Fouth of July Parade. Some people cannot remember a parade when they weren't in the Hebrew yard to take in the event traveling up Third Street

Rita loved her Catholic faith attending St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and Sacred Heart here in Paonia. She kept her promise to the church raising her girls in the Catholic faith. In Paonia, she faithfully walked  two blocks to the Catholic church for daily Mass.

Rita is survived by her oldest child Benni Hebrew;  her grandchildren Colton, Brennen (Taylor), and Rachal Westran; great grandchildren Nyla and Ryker Westran and nephews- Phil Hebrew ( McKnights Jewelry Delta), Richard (Kathy) Michalo, and Michael (Cindy) Whitley and family.

Rita was preceded in death by her husband Cecil Hebrew, her parents Mary and Benny DiLoreto; her three siblings -Lillian Michalo, Mary Whitley, and Henry DiLoreto, her daughter Cecilia Hebrew and her niece Debbie Michalo. 

A celebration of life will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, June 8th at 10:00 o'clock, luncheon following the Mass. Everyone is welcome.