Rita LaReau

Rita Maria LaReau (née Orlowski), was born in Hammond, Indiana to Edward and Rose (Rokosz) Orlowski on January 16, 1948, the third of their four children. Her parents lived and instilled the values of discipline, hard work, loyalty to family, and their Catholic faith.

Rita was educated in Catholic schools in Hammond and attended high school at Bishop Noll Institute, where she met her husband, Allan, who survives. They married in Munster, Indiana in 1971. They lived in Indianapolis and Ann Arbor, and since 1977, in Kalamazoo.

From an early age Rita felt a calling to be a nurse, and that aspiration was fulfilled at Marquette University, where she graduated with a bachelor of science degree in nursing in 1970. She subsequently attended graduate school at Grand Valley State University and in 2000 she was awarded a masters degree in nursing with certification as a geriatric nurse practitioner. Over her career in nursing, she worked as a nurse educator, a hospice nurse, and a clinical instructor at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. After graduate school she served as a geriatric clinical nurse specialist at Bronson Hospital until her retirement in 2013. During her career as a geriatric specialist she received a multitude of accolades and awards. Her research was published in peer-reviewed journals and she delivered presentations at national conferences. Her work at Bronson resulted in significant improvement in clinical outcomes for patients.

Throughout her professional career, Rita was respected for her expertise, diligence, and compassionate care. She also served in a volunteer capacity for many worthy organizations, including serving as board member at Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan, now Centrica Care Navigators, the same organization that provided such stellar care for her for the past several months.

In addition to her professional skills and achievements, Rita excelled in the culinary and horticultural arenas. She was a Michelin-quality chef and for many years hosted the annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot at the LaReau home. The event featured a run/walk/bike event with family and friends followed by a mini feast of hot cider, pastries, and cooked apples. The Turkey Trot also achieved a level of notoriety when it was featured in an article in Cooking Light magazine.

Rita had an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and flowers which was reflected in her home garden and flower arrangements she gifted. She was a personal champion for a healthy diet and lifestyle. She completed the Chicago Marathon in 1999, finished several triathlons, and was a certified Red Cross lifeguard. She was a devoted mother and grandmother and loyal friend to many. Her children and grandchildren were her most significant source of pride and joy. When her grandchildren came to visit, she called them her “essential vitamins.”

Rita succumbed after a long and difficult battle with cancer that lasted several years. She was cared for by an outstanding team of professionals at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo and at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. For the past several months she was cared for at home by the skilled and compassionate professional multidisciplinary team from Centrica Care Navigators including volunteers, nurses, nurse practitioners, a chaplain, music therapist, social worker, and especially the home health aides. She also received additional care from her former colleagues from her patient care unit at Bronson.

Throughout her battle with cancer, Rita demonstrated immeasurable strength, courage, resiliency, and, most notably, grace. She underwent several courses of difficult treatment, multiple surgeries and diagnostic procedures. At no point during this battle did she ask “why me?” or express an ounce of self pity. Her inner strength and spiritual life sustained her.

She was blessed with the love and support of family and friends, from near and afar. The LaReau Family wishes to express their gratitude to Father Paul Redmond and the faith community at St. Thomas More Catholic Student Parish.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents and by her daughter Gretchen in 1993. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Priscilla in 2021 and a brother Edward in 2022. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Allan, and by her daughter, Renée LaReau (James Schmiedeler) of South Bend, Indiana; her son Justin LaReau (Amanda) of Clarendon Hills, Illinois; grandchildren Sophia, Declan, and Emmet LaReau Schmiedeler and Caleb, Luke, Samantha, and Colin LaReau. Other survivors include her sister Miriam Palmer of Whitestown, Indiana, brother-in-law, Dennis Lavery of Portland, Oregon, sister-in-law Jane Orlowski of Salem, Oregon, as well as several nieces and nephews.

A Life Story visitation will take place on Friday, June 7th from 4 - 8 p.m. at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 8th at St. Thomas More Catholic Student Parish, 421 Monroe Street, Kalamazoo. Internment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Kalamazoo, and a reception will take place at Betzler Life Story Funeral Home immediately after the burial. Celebrate Rita's life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on her dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Centrica Care Navigators (Hospice) or the Gretchen LaReau Memorial Fund at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, or the charity of your choice.