Obituary of Rita Morsch

With heart -felt loss, we announce the passing of our beloved matriarch, Rita Morsch, formerly of Wayland, N.Y., and now of Sanford, NC, at the age of 100. She was born Rita Marian Sackett in Rochester, NY to Dr. William Charles and Anastasia (Egan) Sackett on 6/20/1915. She had two siblings; John and Rosemary, who preceded her in death. She attended St. Monica Catholic School and West High School, both in Rochester, and graduated from Naples High School in Naples NY in 1933. She and her family moved to Wayland in 1935, where her father set up his dental practice at 15 E. Naples St. She graduated from Mechanics Institute, now Rochester Institute of Technology, with an art degree in 1936. She met her future husband, James Thomas Morsch, in Wayland in 1938. He was in business with his father, John Francis Morsch, at Morsch Feed and Implement Co., Morsch Truck and Implement, and later Morsch Motors, where the Historical Society now resides. They married on April 15, 1941 and raised six children in Wayland. They relocated to Sanford, NC in 1981. She and Jim enjoyed entertaining, family get-togethers, bridge playing, and traveling. Rita was an accomplished artist, working with acrylics and oils, and she was an avid reader all of her life. Jim passed away on 2/25/2001 after 60 years in a loving marriage. Rita is survived by a large, loving, and devoted family, including her children; Marilyn Zone (Tom), Suzanne Dechert (Dean), Carole Roth (Joe), Tom Morsch (Paula), Jim Morsch (Sandy), and Elizabeth Abdo (Steve), her sister-in-law, Aletha “Lee” Morsch; 14 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. At 100 years of age, she continued to have an independent spirit, a sharp mind, a vivid memory, a valid driver’s license, and a great sense of humor and wit. She had a full, adventurous life and enjoyed living every moment of it. We are grateful for her long and full life and the joy and love she brought to all of us. We will miss her tremendously. Rita’s family and friends may call Wednesday from 4:00 – 7:00 pm at the St. George-Stanton Funeral Home, 109 West Naples St., Wayland. A prayer service will take place at 10:15am Thursday at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Rita on Thursday at 11:00 am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Wayland, NY. Interment will be at St. Joseph Cemetery following the service. Memorial contributions in Rita’s memory may be made to the Wayland Historical Society, 100 S. Main St., Wayland, NY 14572.