Obituary - Rita Kowitch

Mrs. Rita May Kowitch passed away at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital on Monday, January 9, 2012, at the age of 73 years.  She will be lovingly remembered by her son, Steve (Heather) Kowitch;  sisters, Irene (Al) Richards of High River, Alberta and Thelma (Ken) Wilson of Beaverlodge, Alberta. She is also survived by four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews to which she loved very dearly. She was predeceased by her parents, Norbert and Gertrude (Peggy) Tessier and one daughter, Kim Franson.  Rita was born in Cereal, Alberta on March 22, 1938, and was raised and educated in the Oyen and Hanna areas. This is also where she met and later married Otto Kowitch in 1954, starting a family and moving around Central Alberta.  In 1968, Rita moved to the West Coast of Vancouver Island to live a dream, and later moved to Calgary where she settled while continuing her education in accounting.  Then, in 1976, she moved to Fort St. John, B.C. to work at Ward Pontiac Buick GMC.  Rita worked hard and eventually bought the dealership becoming one of the first women to become a GM dealership Principal Owner, running it until her retirement in 1999.  She then moved from B.C. to Sylvan Lake, AB., and finally to Medicine Hat to be closer to her children, residing there until her passing. Rita loved all animals, horses, cats and dogs, especially black labs.  Her dogs, Hooch and Holly, were a joy and were always with her in life and in memories. Rita loved spending the summer at St. Ives, B.C., at the “cabin” on the Shuswap Lake.  She enjoyed her time at the lake entertaining the neighbours and friends.  This is where she often showed her other great passion of cooking with her favorite ingredient, “butter - lots of butter”, always making sure that there was lots to enjoy and no one went away hungry.  Rita will be missed by all her family, friends and her “grand-dog” Teea.  Rita enjoyed life and lived it her way.  A celebration of Rita’s life will be held in April with announcements inviting family and friends at that time. If friends so desire, memorial tributes in memory of Rita may be made to the SPCA, 55 Southwest Drive S.W., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 8E8.