Rita V. Sheldon

Rita V Sheldon of Fairfield CT, passed away peacefully at home with her daughter, Mary Ann (Klecha) and son-in-law, John, at her side.

Rita was born in Franklin, NJ. on September 23, 1926 to Daniel Van Auken and Mary (Zrim) Van Auken. Rita was a 1944 graduate of Franklin High School and 1947 graduate of Orange Memorial school of Nursing as part of the Army Cadet corps. She was a proud operating room nurse at Franklin Hospital where she not only assisted in surgery but then was tasked with sterilizing all equipment and scrubbing the OR. Rita decided to move into school nursing with Jefferson township public elementary schools in order to be more present in her children’s lives. She moved back and forth between Cozy Lake and Milton elementary schools where she was adored by the staff and children.

In January 1949 she married Edgar “Poo” Sheldon. Apparently opposites really do attract. Rita was more reserved and Poo was not! They enjoyed 53 years of marriage before his passing. She loved going to estate sales with Poo and visits with her beloved granddaughters and great grandchildren. She was passionate about cooking and baking and always looked forward to her meals and so did we! In 2002, she sold her home in Franklin, NJ and moved with her daughter, Mary Ann and son in law, John, to Fairfield, CT where she remained until her death. She was an avid reader of books and the newspaper right up until the end and had her daily news briefing with her son in law John when he’d bring the newspapers to her. Until recently, she loved her 5:00pm manhattans and made it to 99 without one medication except for her Andrew Lessman multivitamins.

Rita was predeceased by her husband, Edgar, daughter Susan, maternal parents Daniel and Mary VanAuken and sister, Ann. She is survived by her daughter and husband, Mary Ann (Klecha) and John, granddaughter Julie Gurney and husband Ryan Czado, granddaughter Kate Hanly and husband Chris and her 5 great grandsons Alan, John and Dean Gurney and Cooper and Tucker Hanly.

Final arrangements were handled by Spear Miller Funeral Home in Fairfield, CT. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date with interment of her ashes with her beloved husband, daughter Susan, and her dog Abby.