Rita Catherine Tagmyer

Rita Catherine Tagmyer, 93, passed away peacefully Sunday, June 13 at Arcadia (CA) Retirement Village. She was born in Pittsburgh, PA, the daughter of Catherine and Anthony Schmitt. Rita was one of four children, Ruth Krieger and James Schmitt, both deceased, and Raymond Schmitt, a resident of High Point, NC. Rita grew up in Pittsburgh where she graduated from Carrick High School. In 1934, she married William C. “Bill” Tagmyer, who passed away in 1991. Bill spent his career in the steel industry in numerous executive capacities. They lived in Pittsburgh, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Houston before settling in Arcadia in the late 1960’s. Rita believed in her family first and foremost, and developed a special bond with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews. She enjoyed travel, especially the many freighter trips with her husband. She liked to host Yahtzee parties for her friends, and play bingo and dominos. Rita was a longtime volunteer at Holy Angels Church, never missed Sunday Mass, attended Bible study classes, and often prayed the rosary. She liked to cook and serve others and was known for her lemon meringue pie. Her favorite color was blue, and she loved to eat blueberries. Rita made friends easily and could be relied on to keep a secret. She was appropriately stubborn, but a trusted friend who would do anything for others. Everyone commented that it was always a pleasure to be with her. Rita lived a peaceful, gentle and dignified life, was sweet and kind, never complained, and was unfailingly positive. Everyone remarked on her beautiful handwriting in the frequent letters and cards she wrote to family and friends. Rita and Bill had three children: Bill of Lake Oswego, OR; Bob of Centennial, CO,; and Joyce, of Arcadia, CA., who died in 2000. In addition to her two sons, Rita is survived by 9 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Bill’s children are Bill, Jr. (children Kelsey, Lindsay and Whitney); Steve (his wife, Vicki, and children Michelle and Dawson), Kristen Tuor (her husband Darren and children Dalton and Dylan) and Karey Gutierrez (her husband Bernard and children Sophie and Ellie). Bob and his wife, Sue, are the parents of Blake and Brittany. Rita died five weeks shy of Brittany’s July 16 wedding to Jack Woolnough in Denver. Rita’s only daughter, Joyce, who died of Lou Gehrig’s disease, was married to Gary Suess, a resident of Arcadia. They are the parents of Jennifer New (husband Keith and children Kyle, Kendra, Kara, and Kennedy), Greg (wife Michelle and daughter Avery), and Julie Suess. A Mass in celebration of Rita’s life will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, June 19 at Holy Angels Church in Arcadia. Visitation will be at Douglas and Zook Funeral Home in Monrovia on Friday, June 18, from 6 to 8 pm with a rosary at 7:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Holy Angels (370 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007) or a charity of the donor’s choice.