Rita Hendershot of Hope, N.J., passed away on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, at Hackettstown Medical Center. She was 79.
Born to the late Theodore and Elizabeth (Vahaly) Vanderwerf, Rita grew up in Hamburg and was a 1961 graduate of Hamburg High School, where she participated in cheerleading and school plays.
She was a member and former president of the Hamburg Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. She briefly lived in Pine Island, N.Y., during her first marriage to John Barczak Sr.
Throughout her life, Rita worked as an LPN at Franklin Hospital and Sussex Hospital. She also worked at familiar local establishments, such as The Ye Jolly Onion Inn, owned by Vince and Polly Kosuga, in Pine Island and The Wayside Inn, owned by Steve Szorka, in McAfee, N.J.
She was a devout member of the Frankford Plains United Methodist Church, where she would always make her famous “wacky cake,” a chocolate cake that strangely includes vinegar!
In 2008, Rita moved to Forest Manor in Hope, where she made many close friends and was the Residents Council president for several years.
She was predeceased by her parents and stepfather, Kenneth Fuller; her second husband of 28 years, Evan E. Hendershot; and older brother, Ted Vanderwerf.
Rita is survived by her loving children, John Barczak Jr. of St. Louis, Mo., Kelly Barczak Morgiewicz and her husband David of Hamburg, Justine Hendershot Lynn and her husband Sean of Franklin, and David Hendershot and his wife Miriam of Lilesville, N.C.; her grandchildren, Dawn, Evan and Sarah Hendershot, Cagney and Delaney Conner, Mackenzie, Haylie and Rylie Lynn, and Jimmy and Julie Sanders; and her devoted younger brother, Kenneth “George” Fuller.
Visitation for Rita was held Monday, Nov. 28 at the F. John Ramsey Funeral Home, One Main St., Franklin. The funeral took place at noon at the funeral home; burial in the North Hardyston Cemetery followed.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Forest Manor Health Care Center, 145 State Park Road, Blairstown, NJ 07844.
Online condolences may be offered through www.fergusonfuner-alhomesnj.com
Rita Hendershot of Hope passed away on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, at Hackettstown Medical Center. She was 79.
Born in Franklin to the late Theodore and Elizabeth (Vahaly) Vanderwerf, Rita grew up in Hamburg. She was a 1961 graduate of Hamburg High School, where she participated in cheerleading and school plays. She moved briefly to Pine Island, N.Y., before coming back to Hamburg, living there most of her life until she settled in Hope in 2008.
Rita had worked as an LPN at Franklin Hospital before working at a few different jobs in the restaurant industry. She was a devoted homemaker, and she enjoyed taking care of her family. She had been a member of the Frankford United Methodist Church and the Hamburg Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary.
Predeceased by her parents; stepfather, Kenneth Fuller; husband, Evan E. Hendershot; and brother Ted Vanderwerf, Rita is survived by her loving children, John Barczak Jr., Kelly Morgiewicz and her husband David, and Justine Lynn and her husband Sean; stepson David Hendershot and his wife Miriam; grandchildren Dawn, Evan and Sarah Hendershot, Cagney and Delaney Conner, Mackenzie, Haylie and Rylie Lynn, and Jimmy and Julie Sanders; as well as her brother, Kenneth “George” Fuller.
A visitation for Rita was held Monday, Nov. 28 from 10 a.m. to noon at the F. John Ramsey Funeral Home, One Main St., Franklin. A funeral was at noon at the funeral home. Burial in the North Hardyston Cemetery followed.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Frankford United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be offered through www.fergusonfuneralhomesnj.com