Obituary of Rita Romer Nowak

Rita Romer Nowak, a lifelong resident of the area who currently resided at Elant in Goshen, died at ORMC on January 4, 2015 after a long illness. She was 85. Born on August 26, 1929, Rita was raised in Florida, NY. After graduating from S.S. Seward Institute, she began a career as a Purchasing Assistant at Master Rule, Inc. in Middletown. In 1950 she married Daniel Nowak, "the love of her life", who died tragically at the age of 34. After raising her two children as a single parent, Rita began a second career as an Administrative Secretary for Georgia Pacific Corporation in Warwick, NY where she retired in 1994 after 24 years of service. Rita was a talented pinochle player who enjoyed spending time with her card club group. She was also a member of the women's bowling league. She had a passion for journalism and enjoyed taking writing courses at Orange County Community College. After her retirement, Rita spent many happy years as a beloved volunteer at Arden Hill Hospital in Goshen. She was also a volunteer reader for the blind at Radio Vision in Middletown. Rita was an avid reader of novels and the New York Times, especially in more recent years when it was difficult for her to leave the house. She was also a diehard Yankee fan! Mema was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother whose greatest joy in life was spending time with her family and friends. She was a ray of sunshine, even in tough times, and she will be greatly missed by all. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Deleon and the staff at Goshen Medical Associates and the entire staff of Elant at Goshen for their outstanding and compassionate care throughout the past years. Rita was a past member of St. Joseph's Church and it's Living Rosary Society in Florida, NY. Rita is survived by her daughter, Mary Sudol and her husband Steve of White Lake, NY; son, Daniel Nowak and his wife Christina of Brandon, FL; grandson, Jess Sudol and his wife Kelly of Rochester, NY; granddaughter, Lyndsy Sudol of Virginia Beach, VA; granddaughter, Felicia Veatch and her husband Adam of Bossier City, LA; grandson, Donovan Gregory of Bremerton, WA; great-grandchildren, Aubrey and Brynn Sudol and Ariel Veatch, and her cherished aunts and uncle, brother and sisters-in- law, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. She was predeceased by her first husband Daniel Nowak, her second husband, Michael Geraci, her sister Shirley Dolfini and her parents Sophie and Leo Romer. There will be no visitation and cremation will be held privately. A funeral mass will be held 10:00 AM Saturday, January 10th at St. Joseph's Church, 20 Glenmere Avenue, Florida, NY 10921. Burial will be held in St. Joseph Cemetery, Florida, NY. Memorial donations can be made to Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550 or to the Florida Public Library, 4 Cohen Circle, Florida, NY 10921.