RITA ZARUBA, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, volunteer, avid bridge and domino player, and lifelong friend of Hallettsville, passed away on Sunday, January 10th, 2016 at age 79 from complications from a stroke.

She was born on the family farm in Lavaca County, Texas on September 16, 1936 to the late Nicholas Grahmann and Annie Grafe Grahmann. She was the sixth of eleven children who were taught from a young age to love God and give selflessly to others. Rita attended Sacred Heart School, graduating in 1955. Following graduation, Rita worked at Mikulenka Department Store and Goedecke, Inc. Cotton Firm, located in Hallettsville, Texas. On November 8, 1958, Rita married Frank Zaruba and started a family, raising two children, Jack Zaruba and Donna Zaruba Walker.

Rita was always very active with Sacred Heart Church and the Associates of the Incarnate Word. Through the Sacred Heart Christian Mothers, she ensured many of Hallettsville's babies were kept warm by running the baby quilt project, sewing and stitching the quilts that were presented to member mothers when they gave birth. Rita was also in charge of the Sharing Tree at Christmas, whereby church members bought gifts for the patients in the two local nursing homes. Rita served the Sacred Heart Church as Minister of Communion and Lector, and for many years administered Holy Communion to the patients in the local hospital, nursing homes and to several shut-ins. For several years, Rita was in charge of one of the Bereavement Committees, serving meals and refreshments following funerals of church members.

Rita was also member of the Hallettsville Library Reading Club, Friends of the Library, Lavaca County Young Homemakers and the Serra Club of the Diocese of Victoria NW. She was an active tennis player and played regularly with her family in local tournaments during the 1980's. Rita was very active with the State Championship Fiddlers' Frolics from its inception, being in charge of the contestants' registration in the early years. She received a recognition award from the KC's and the Frolics in 2010 for her years of service. Later in her married life, she returned to work as the secretary treasurer of the cable television company when cable TV was introduced in Hallettsville. Rita also enjoyed playing bridge and dominoes with her many friends.

Rita especially enjoyed traveling with her husband, Frank. They attended bluegrass and other music festivals in the U.S., tennis tournaments in the U.S. and Canada, and visited relatives in Germany and the Czech Republic. They also traveled to the Virgin Islands, Newfoundland, Alaska, Ireland, and especially enjoyed spending a week each year at the John Newcombe Tennis Center in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Rita actively supported her children and grandchildren as they excelled in school and sports growing up. She treasured family gatherings and enjoyed spending time outdoors with her family.

As a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, and sister, Rita embraced life and all of its struggles with smiles and prayers. Rita is survived by her husband, Frank Zaruba; children Jack Zaruba, and his wife Sandy, and Donna Walker, and her husband, Kevin; five grandchildren, Mark Zaruba, James Zaruba (his wife Jennifer and their son, Jacoby), Michael Zaruba, Annie Grace Zaruba-Walker and Ethan Zaruba-Walker; and nine brothers and sisters, Brother James Grahmann, Bishop Charles V. Grahmann, Sister M. Sylvia Grahmann, Marcus Grahmann and his wife Marjorie, Jerome Grahmann and his wife Evelyn, Anita Spangler and her husband Fred, Mary Ann Michalke, Fred Grahmann and his wife Sharon, and Nicholas Grahmann, Jr. and his wife Barbara. She was predeceased by her sister, Sister M. Anastasia Grahmann and brother-in-law Eugene Michalke. In addition, Rita leaves behind many nieces and nephews, devoted friends and her church family, who dearly loved and appreciated her tireless energy, friendship and her great faith.

Funeral Mass Service: 10 am, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Hallettsville. Visitation: 4 pm, Wednesday, at Kubena Funeral Home with Rosary starting at7 pm at Sacred Heart Catholic Church . Pallbearers: Ethan Zaruba-Walker, Mark Zaruba, James Zaruba, Michael Zaruba, Mark Grahmann, and Michael Grahmann. Officiants: Bishop Charles V. Grahmann and Msgr. John Peters. Memorials: Sacred Heart Church and School, Nicholas and Annie Grahmann Seminary Burse through the Diocese of Victoria, Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament Convent in Victoria, donor's local Catholic School or other charitable outreach. Burial: Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery.