Rita J. Spirko 1951-2025

She is survived by her husband, Robert, of Hinckley, to whom she was lovingly married for 52 years; son, Christian of Hinckley and Alisha Spirko (Scott) Compton of Cuyahoga Falls; sister-in-law, Helen Spirko (Harry) Ludeman of Howland; cousin, Valerie Drapp (Michael) Youll of Warren; and many cousins and relatives in the U.S. and U.K.

Rita was the daughter of the late Alfred and Nellie Clewlow Lovatt of Stone, Staffordshire, England, a stepdaughter of Richard Vernon Brooks of Wales, and held dual citizenship, which she received in 2005, as a U.S. citizen. She emigrated to the United States at the age of 7 in 1958 with her parents and older brother, Keith A. Lovatt, deceased.

She was a 1968 graduate of Cuyahoga Falls High School and 1974 graduate of the Idabelle Firestone College of Nursing.

She worked for Summa Health System for 40 years before retiring as a case manager from SummaCare in 2014. She dedicated her life as a registered nurse and received the Summa Caring Award in 2006 for her efforts in providing caring needs for her patients. Her kindness and gentle spirit touched countless lives during her career.

In her spare time, Rita’s passions were fashion and interior decorating, and in addition, she attended several concerts of her favorite musicians, Sting and The Beatles, when they came to the United States. She also visited “The Cavern” in Liverpool, where they started their careers. She was a beautiful woman who not only got prettier as she got older but also had the gentle personality to go with that beauty. In addition, she had a quick English wit and wicked British sense of humor.

She loved tending to her flower boxes and gardens, but her greatest happiness was spending time with her family on those zany family vacations or just simply being at home with them. She knew how precious her children, husband and pets were to her.

Rita will be sadly missed by her family and friends.

Calling hours will be 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, at Carlson Funeral Home, 3477 Medina Road, Medina, OH 44256.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 1088 Ridge Road, Hinckley, OH 44233, with the Rev. Father William Smith as celebrant.

Cremation will take place with inurnment in Hope Memorial Gardens in Hinckley.

Arrangements are entrusted to Carlson Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, 3477 Medina Road, Medina, OH 44256.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Summa Home Hospice of Akron for the wonderful medical assistance they provided. In addition, a special thank you for the medical services of Dr. Matthew Chung, Summa Health Internal Medicine; Dr. Nicholas Pleat and Dr. Anand Desai, Summa Oncologists; and all the oncology nurses at the Summa Health Cancer Institute at the Jean and Milton Cooper Pavilion for their wonderful medical attention.

This obituary may be viewed and condolences sent to www.carlsonfuneralhomes.com.

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