Rita Orlin Lefkow died peacefully at the age of 93, at the home she shared with her son and daughter-in-law, Nathan & Patricia, in Flemington, New Jersey, on the fifth of April, 2025.

She was born in New York, but her young stomping grounds were at her grandmothers in Perth Amboy, NJ.

On a blind date set up by her sister, Terry she met her husband, Stanley. After turning down Stan’s proposals, Rita finally said YES, and they were married in 1953, and stayed that way for 60 years, before his passing.

At a time, when the only degree that ladies received was a Mrs., she graduated Bellevue School of Nursing and Hunter College, where she earned her Master’s Degree.

She was instrumentally involved with the design, building, and staffing of the 500-bed East Chester Park Nursing home in the Bronx, where she was the Director of Nursing. When they moved to New Jersey, she became a doctor’s office nurse. Of course, she had to take it to the next level and became the diabetic counselor for the patients; the start of what we now know as a physician’s assistant. Her experience helped get many of the New Brunswick physician’s offices started.

She was president of the PTA. She was president of the Sisterhood. She volunteered with the Bronx 44th Police Precinct. She was a Den Mother with Cub Scouts and then active in the Boy Scouts too. In short, she jumped into every part of Stan’s then Nathan’s lives. This never stopped! Especially when a daughter-in-law, grandchildren, grandson-in-laws and a great grandson were added. Even though Rita & Stan were independent people, they fully supported and became involved in each other’s interests, road trips, the theater, model railroading, woodworking, American Society of Magicians, early personal computer groups and shows, Prostate Cancer Group, multiple senior groups, and with them bus trips and cruises.

She is survived by her son, Nathan Lefkow & daughter-in-law Patricia, her two granddaughters, Jacqueline Lefkow, her husband, Brett Sumliner and Rebecca (Lefkow) Miller, her husband, Dana Miller, along with her great grandson, Danel Alexander Miller.

Graveside life celebration services officiated by Rabbi Eric Cohen will take place on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., at Beth Israel Cemetery, 1098 Woodbridge Center Dive, Woodbridge Township, NJ 07095, under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

Everyone is asked to meet at the cemetery office beginning at 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday. Please do not go to the gravesite by yourself, but rather line up in procession behind the hearse upon arrival at the cemetery office. Wright & Ford Care Team Family Ambassadors will direct you upon arrival.

Shiva will take place at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Nathan and Patty, from 6:30-9:00 p.m. each of the following days: Tuesday, April 8, 2025, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, and Thursday, April 10, 2025.

You are encouraged to visit Rita’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.

As is customary in the Jewish faith, no flowers please. Donation information will be forthcoming.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”

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