Rita Bennett

Rita Bennett (nee Shuster), 95, passed away on November 14, 2024. She was greatly loved by all who knew her.

Rita was born on September 22, 1929 in Lorain, Ohio to Charles and Magdalene Shuster. She was a member of Nativity BVM until she became a founding member of St. Vincent DePaul’s church in Lorain. She was a parishioner there for over 65 years, involved in many aspects of the church.

A lifelong resident of Lorain, she was a 1947 graduate of Lorain High School. In 1951, she married Norman Bennett of Lorain and had five children during their time together. She was a Lorain resident for her entire life.

Rita’s work ethic was like no other. She worked and sacrificed to provide for her family. She began her working career at Fisher Foods. Then she worked as a head cashier and supervisor for over 20 years at Meyer Goldbergs grocery store, most memorably chasing down a shoplifter. Once Meyer Goldbergs closed, she became the best forklift operator that BF Goodrich ever had. When given the opportunity to work in the treasurer's office with Lorain City Schools she changed career paths once again, where she ended her working career. In the 1960’s she bought her first of what became many rental properties in Lorain’s Cromwell Gardens. She did every single job required on her properties, including roofing! She was a generous and helpful landlord, even driving her tenants to their children’s doctor appointments at times and always giving grace when life was hard for her tenants.

Rita was an active leader and trailblazer of her time. She was a union representative at the grocery stores, a member of the Polish Legion of American Veterans and the United Polish Club. In 1973, at a time when women could not even apply for credit cards without a husband’s consent, Rita ran for Councilwoman in the 4th ward. She was vocal in all her beliefs.

Throughout her 95 years, Rita had hundreds of friends and a social life that was hard to keep up with. An avid poker and blackjack player, Rita loved the casinos and any opportunity for a game of cards or to play slots. Rita’s list of friends was miles long, and she left an impact on all the friends that were lucky enough to know her. She especially enjoyed her poker groups and her pinochle group. She hosted weekly poker tournaments at her home with “the guys.” She ran casino night, carnival, and Bingo fundraisers for St. Vincent de Paul. She always found a way to have fun, even once narrowly missing arrest and a shake down with the police when she showed up to an underground poker game late. Her most precious friend group was her “Club”, her best lifelong friends that gathered every week for well over 50 years to play cards and

plan adventures to go “galivanting” and “lollygagging” around, making the rest of us guess what they were up to and where they were. Rita and her dear Club friends were truly the original Golden Girls. She loved to travel any place where there were adventures to be had and bets to be placed. She loved polka music and was always the last one to leave the dance floor. She was on bowling leagues when she was younger, and enjoyed painting ceramics. She loved a good

book.

More than anything, Rita loved family. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She never missed a birthday or a holiday. She never missed a chance to go to her grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s activities. She held onto everything that her grandkids and great grandkids made or mementos of their events. She treasured it all.

Rita is survived by her children, Debra (Herman) Calabrese Moore, Dennis (Nancy) Bennett, Sharon Bennett, Barbara Berens, and Mark (Violet) Bennett; grandchildren, Jennifer (Adam) Bilczo, Lindsay Bennett, Tessa Bennett, Anthony (Kimberly) Calabrese, Nicholas Calabrese, Angela (Andy) Cresap, Courtney Bennett and Ryan (Natalie) Bennett; and many great grandchildren that she loved deeply.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Raymond and Walter Shuster; and sisters, Veronica (Stanley) Kapron, Mary (Robert) Smith, and Joan (Mel) Brumback.

The family will receive friends at the Wyers-Bollinger Funeral Chapel, 2900 N. Ridge Rd., Sheffield Twp. on Monday, November 18 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Tuesday, November 19 at 10:00 am at St. Vincent DePaul Church, 41295 N. Ridge Rd., Elyria, followed by the burial at Calvary Cemetery, Lorain.