Obituary of Rita M. Wade

Rita “Mollie” Wade passed away March 24, 2019 at the age of 92. She was lovingly cared for by the caregivers at Pacifica Senior Memory Care in McMinnville, Oregon for the last 3 years. Prior to that she lived with Kimberly for 6 years in Manteca, California. During that time, she visited for weeks to months with both Linda and Michael in Vancouver, Washington and Hillsboro, Oregon. Rita was born December 18, 1926 in Oakland, California. She was the youngest and only child out of 11 that was born in a hospital. Her parents were John Lunger and Anna Niest Lunger. Rita was preceded in death by her parents, siblings and son-in-law Donald Hegman. Rita is survived by her children, Linda Fisher (Robert Fisher), Michael Wade (Janis Waterman-Wade) and Kimberly Hegman. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Jennifer Fisher, Cory Hegman (Jenni), Kelly Hegman (Mindy); and great grandchildren who affectionately knew her as GG, Ashlyn, Taya, Gavin and Charlize “Charlie”. Rita resided in California and Oregon. She moved continuously between the two states over her adult life so that she could be close to her children and grandchildren. She took care of her mother Anna from 1974-1990 when she finally had to put her in a nursing home at the age of 100, Anna passed away at 103. Rita would travel from Tracy to Sacramento every weekend to visit with her mom until the day she passed away. She would have gone up more often but she was still working well into her 70’s. As a young girl Rita was quite athletic, she loved to play tennis and in her later years she bowled in a league and she loved to play putt putt golf. She worked all her life from an early age, as a uniformed usher at the Fairfax Theater in Oakland, she worked as a keypunch operator at Lucky Stores, Skaggs Stones Store, Alameda Naval Air Station. She was also an office worker for West Coast Vending, Tracy Public Schools, San Joaquin Food Bank and Tracy Police Department, all in Northern California. In Oregon she worked as a keypunch operator for Fred Meyer and Blackwell International and clerical work at the Oregon Food Bank. While she was working, she raised 3 children. She always found a way to take us on vacation; Disneyland, Yosemite, Dodge Ridge, World’s Fair in Spokane, Washington. If a vacation wasn’t attainable, we would go on long rides in the country. The care givers at Pacifica really enjoyed Mom for her feisty spirt and her active hands. She enjoyed the weekly country drives and she would sing to the music and get other residents up to dance with her. She won many prizes for her bowling prowess. She settled into her death knowing where she was going, she said so to her children and the caregivers. She was calm and prayerful, “God is holding me” she told the young attendants. Another attendant said “for such a small woman, she had a big heart”. Through all the struggles she has endured, she emerged victorious, her personality, her spirit, her love intact. A Memorial Mass will be held at St. James Catholic Church 1145 N.E. 1st Street, McMinnville, Oregon 97128. (503) 472-5232, Friday, April 5, 2019 1:00 pm A Memorial Graveside Service will be held in May at Tracy Public Cemetery, Tracy, California where she will be interred.