Margherita Zaruba

Margherita ""Rita"" Zaruba, 90, of Columbus, passed away on Saturday, September 4, 2010, at Crown Pointe Nursing Home in Columbus. Rita was born on November 27, 1919, in Paruzzaro, Italy, daughter of the late Giovanni and Maddalena Adeve Giacometti. She was the widow of the late Karl Zaruba.

Rita loved traveling, reading, crocheting, playing cards, an occasional slot machine and sharing swiss chocolates with all she knew. She especially enjoyed time with her family and friends who will forever hold their memories of the wonderful times they shared with her. Rita touched many lives and will be dearly missed by all that knew and loved her.

As a young child she moved to Switzerland with her family where she grew up. She returned to Italy as a young woman where she married Bruno Palma. She became a widow in 1941 and immigrated to Canada in 1952 with her two children. There she married Karl Zaruba and they moved to Detroit to share their life together and eventually settled in Columbus, Ohio. She was a finance officer for Peer Review in Columbus.

Rita is survived by her children, Franco Palma of Columbus, Ohio and Bruna Walter Panella of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan; grandchildren, Dennis Gail Panella of Phoenix, Arizona and Sandra Jeff Lucksted of Mt. Pleasant, Mchigan; great-grandchildren Spencer, Catie, Ryan, Kyle and her dear friend Theres Whitfield.

In addition to her parents and husband, Rita was preceded in death by her first husband, Bruno Palma, her beloved grandson Matthew Palma; one brother and two sisters.

A memorial service will be held 6 P.M., Friday September 24, 2010 at St. Timothy Catholic Church, 1088 Thomas Lane, Columbus, OH 43220, with Father Timothy Hayes officiating. Arrangements are by Cardaras Funeral Home, 183 E. Second St., Logan.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Margherita Zaruba to the St. Joseph's Indian School, P.O. Box 100, Chamberlain, SD 57325.

Please sign her online guestbook at www.cardaras.com