Obituary of Rita E. Ohsiek

Long Island, New York – Rita Ellen Ohsiek, a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on December 11, 2024, in Medford, New York. Born on April 3, 1943, in Brooklyn, she touched the lives of many with her kindness, determination, and devotion to family.

Rita is survived and deeply missed by her children: Jackie (Doug) Henson, Debbie Ohsiek, and Charles (Danelle) Ohsiek Jr.; her grandchildren: Amy (Blake) James, Nicolle (Emery) Floyd, Samantha (Ricky) Hoelscher, and Victoria Henson; and her eleven great-grandchildren: Skylar, Sloanne, Waylon, Bailee, Maddox, Braxton, Knox, Gunner, Harper, Bryer, and Henlee.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Frances Fellman, and her former husband, Charles Ohsiek Sr.

Rita graduated from The Mary Louis Academy and began her career as a Lab Technician at Long Island Jewish Hospital. In 1962, she married Charles Sr. and briefly paused her career to raise their three children. While managing the demands of motherhood, Rita pursued higher education, earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in social work from Stony Brook University. She went on to build a rewarding career as a Psychiatric Social Worker for the State of New York, dedicating herself to helping others.

After retiring following more than 30 years of service with the state, Rita fully embraced life, enjoying vacations, holidays with her family, and regular outings with her cherished ‘lunch bunch’ and ‘breakfast club’.

Known for her resilience, generosity, and devotion, Rita found joy in music, collecting records, traveling to visit loved ones, and attending concerts—particularly her annual summer trips to Tanglewood with her best friend, Joan Stein. She will be remembered for her unwavering love and the treasured memories she created with her family and friends. Her grandchildren recall her as a wise, thoughtful, and loving grandmother, while her great-grandchildren will fondly miss her humor, care, and the joy she brought to birthdays and holidays. Her nieces and nephews remember her as a strong, devoted, and loving presence in their lives.

Her legacy of love, laughter, and compassion will live on in the hearts of those who knew her.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 16, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at McManus-Lorey Funeral Home. The funeral service will take place at 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at McManus-Lorey Funeral Home, followed by her final resting place at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center, or the American Cancer Society.