Obituary of Rita G. McKeown

RITA M. GUARD MCKEOWN August 20, 1922 to _October 29, 2011 Goshen, NY Rita Guard McKeown, of Goshen, a resident at Elant Nursing Home in Goshen, passed on October 29, 2011 at Orange Regional Medical Center. Rita was the oldest living person in her family, having achieved the age of 89. Rita was born in the Bronx to Arthur and Jessica Guard. She was married to the love of her life Tom at St. Angela Merici Parish in the Bronx, NY. Rita raised her five children in the Bronx and moved to Blooming Grove, NY in 1962. She was the bookkeeper for the town of Blooming Grove until her retirement. She then moved to Lake Conroe in Texas. Rita and Tom loved travelling the United States. She returned to New York to be closer to her NY family. She lived in Goshen until she went to reside at Elant of Goshen. Reading and watching Martha Stewart, Food Network, baseball and NCIS were her passions in her later years. Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband Tom, her son Andrew, her daughter Elizabeth Collins. Her sister Edith Tanner. She is survived by her children Sharon O'Donnell and her husband Jerry of Goshen, NY, Joan McKeown of Harriman, NY and her son Thomas McKeown of Keller, Texas; Grandchildren Jerome and Cynthia O'Donnell, Glenmoore, Pa.; Tom and Marisa O'Donnell of Pine Bush, NY; Michael O'Donnell of Goshen, NY; Elise and Luca Tixon of Rome Italy; Patricia Crawford of Harriman, NY; Ardith McKeown of Central Valley, NY, Amy Beth Collins and Andrew Collins of Spring, Texas; Great Grandchildren, Ben, Isabel and Jacob O'Donnell of Glenmoore, Pa; sister-in-law, Veronica Hannon, who was a sister to her through all the years, also Bob and Joe McKeown and many nieces and nephews who all played an important part in her life. The family appreciates and thanks the staff on Paff l at Elant Nursing Home in Goshen for the care that they provided for Rita while she lived there. Special thanks to the Palliative Care Group at Orange Regional Medical Center, who lovingly cared for her in her final days and hours. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Rita's name to the Palliative Care Program, attention: Dr. King at Orange Regional Medical Center, East Main Street, Middletown, NY 10940. All donations will continue and develop the Palliative Care Program. The family will receive friends from 6-9pm on Friday, November 4th, 2011at the Donovan Funeral Home, 82 South Church Street, Goshen, NY. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, November 5th, at St. Anastasia Church, Route 17M, Harriman, NY, at 11:00 am. Cremation will follow with interment at a later date in St. Anastasia's Cemetery, Harriman, NY. Arrangements under the care of the Donovan Funeral Home, Inc., Goshen. To leave the family a personal condolence please visit www.donovanfunerals.com