Rita M. (Zamborsky) Batcho

Rita M. Batcho was born in Toronto, OH, on June 24, 1930, and departed this life on March 23, 2023, at 92 years of age.  She was the daughter of the late John J. Zamborsky and Mary Choma Zamborsky.  She was preceded in death by her husband, John M. Batcho, her brother, John J. Zamborsky, Jr., and her sister, Pauline (Dick) Choma Stanco.

Rita is survived by two daughters, Mary Anne (Mark) Palko of Parma Heights, OH, and Rita (David) Deary of Columbus, OH; two sons, John (Lisa) Batcho of North Canton, OH and Mark (Kelly) Batcho of Fayetteville, GA; seven grandchildren, Zachary (Valerie) Batcho, Jacob (Sanaya) Batcho, Hilary (Jake) Allen, Ryan Palko, Diego Palko, Tyler Penrose, and Travis Batcho; her sister-in-law, Yolanda Zamborsky of Independence, OH; and brother-in-law, George (Mary Lou) Batcho of Weirton, WV; her nephews and nieces; and seven great-grandchildren.

Rita attended Toronto City Schools and graduated from Toronto High School in 1948.  She completed the Mount Sinai Hospital School of Nursing in Cleveland Heights in 1951 and was recognized as the top graduate in her class.

Rita was known as a skilled and caring nurse.  Her 41-year career in hospitals included service at Mount Sinai Hospital, Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC, Gill Memorial Hospital in Steubenville, and Saint John Hospital in Steubenville.  She later worked with the Toronto office of Tri-County Home Health and the American Red Cross blood donor program.

Rita enjoyed the friendship and comradery she found with the Catholic Women’s Club at Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church, and volunteered making hospice bears, pirohis, and nut rolls.  She also volunteered as a health aide at Saint Francis Central School and at the Trinity West Hospital.  She was a life member of the Toronto High School Alumni Association and a member in the Mount Sinai School of Nursing alumni group.

Rita was very devoted to her family.  She had four wonderful children and had a “special place in her heart for each one.”  She also absolutely adored all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held Sunday, March 26, from 12 noon to 4 pm at the J.E. Foster Funeral Home in Toronto with a Vigil Service at 3:30 pm. Additional visitation will take place Monday at the St. Joseph Catholic Church from 10:30 am to 11 am followed by a Funeral Liturgy with Mass at 11 am. Fr. Thomas Vennitti will celebrate, and burial will follow in the Toronto Union Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37839, Boone IA 50037-0839 or www.redcross.org/donate