Rita Elizabeth Apodaca

Rita Elizabeth Apodaca, was born on October 12, 1921 in Boston, Massachusettes to John and Julia Wade. She was the oldest of 8 children. As a young child she and her family would visit her grandparents farm, which was next door to the farm of the Henry Cabot Lodge family. After attending high school in Watertown, Massachusettes, Rita then enrolled in Boston College and earned her degree as a registered nurse. Rita then joined the Navy and received the rand of Ensign. She was a Navy nurse during World War II and survived the bombing of Pearl Harbor. She was then on a medical ship bound for Honolulu, Hawaii and during this time her husband, Zachary Apodaca, was a Marine engaged in battles on Guadalcanal and Tarawa. He was woulded in battle and transferred to a military hospital in Hawaii. It was during this time that they met and were married in 1944. After the war, they moved for a short time to Port Townsend, Washington, before moving to Denver. Rita and her husband had 15 children: Joe, Maryanne (Jim), Bill, Barbara, Steve, Bob (Dawn), Kenny, Jimmy, Mike (Kim), Timothy (Mary), Tommy, Ronnie, Chris, Patrick and Greg. For over 25 years Rita worked as the nursing supervisor on the night shift in the new born and critical care nursery. Quite often she would see some well known person's name in the paper and laughingly tell her family how she used to change that young ""up start's"" diapers! During those years of employment, she and many of her nurse contemporaries assumed that when it was time to retire, the nuns at the hospital would provide a retirements fund. It just so happened that when one of her friends did retire, she found out that there was no retirement fund!! She quickly ""Retired"" from St. Joe's and went to work at Denver General, retiring after ten years with a pension! After she retired from Denver General, she worked as a private nurse in various nursing homes in the Denver area. After her retirement, she was a volunteer at St. Anthony of Padua Church and volunteered until she was 89 years old. She did volunteer at St. Anthony's from 1959 to 2010 and never missed a week. She was also a memeber of the Altar and Rosary Society at St. Anthony's. She was well known for her crocheting abilities and made the most beautiful afghans (many of which were donated to the VA Nursing Home). She also crocheted the most intricate, and delicate, hankies. She also made the most wonderful chocolate chip cookies, and during the holidays would make several large batches to share with family, friends and co-workers. She also enjoyed semi-classical music and had many wonderful opportunities to see and hear her favorite composer, Arthur Fielder and the Boston Pops Orchestra. Rita is survived by her children; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren; her brother Paul; and sisters, Judy and Totty. She is preceded in death by her husband, Zachary; her son, Greg; brothers Jack and Bill; and sisters Mary and Cecilia. She will be greatly missed, but never forgotten by her family and friends. Visitation, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8:00am to 5:00pm at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3101 South Wadsworth Boulevard. Recitation of The Rosary, Sunday at 7:00pm, also at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel. Funeral Mass, Monday at 11:00am, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 3801 West Ohio Avenue. Followed by burial at Fort Logan National Cemetery at 12:30pm at Area B. Memorial donations suggested to: St. Anthony of Padua Food Banks or to The First Marine Corps Division, C/O SSGT Gary Wilkins, P.O. Box 2179, Littleton, CO 80161. Please share your memories of Rita and condolences with her family by selecting the ""sign guestbook"" button below.