Rita Paliotta's Obituary
Rita Paliotta was born on February 8, 1942, in Copenhagen, Denmark, to Vagner and Ellen Soes. Her early years in Denmark were shaped by the realities of World War II, experiences that helped form the strength, resilience, and independence that defined her throughout her life. In 1950, she immigrated to America with her family and spent her formative years in New York. She later moved to San Antonio, where she met Nicholas Paliotta. The couple married in 1968 and eventually made Oklahoma their home.
Rita worked as a bookkeeper in the aerospace industry and was known for occasionally taking her grandchildren to work with her, where they were fascinated by the airplanes and scenery. Above all else, her greatest joy in life was her family, especially her grandchildren, who were truly the center of her world.
Rita had a deep love for travel and adventure, proudly visiting all 50 states across America. One of her greatest joys was fulfilling her lifelong dream of visiting St. Thomas. She also enjoyed reading, watching the Hallmark Channel, playing cards, completing crossword puzzles, and keeping up with her daily Wordle. In her younger years, Rita was athletic and remained active throughout her life, faithfully walking nearly four miles a day and tracking her progress on her Apple Watch. She enjoyed weekend drives and always looked forward to her weekly Jamba Juice treat.
As a devoted mother, Rita spent many years as the dependable "taxi driver" for her four active children, always making sure they were where they needed to be. She took special pride in her beautiful houseplants, somehow keeping them thriving when no one else could. Though modest by nature, she always enjoyed sharing her flourishing plants with family and friends.
Rita was described as independent, caring, loving, selfless, compassionate, and strong. She never wanted to be an inconvenience to others and faced adversity with grace and resilience. For a time, she volunteered at Bixby schools, where her daughter Kathy taught.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Lissi Schneider; her daughter, Jennifer; her grandsons, Mark and Beck; and her husband, Nicholas Paliotta.
Rita passed away on May 5, 2026, at the age of 84, following a courageous battle with lung cancer.
She is survived by her children: daughter, Kathy Gilliam; sons, John Paliotta and partner Kristy, and David Paliotta and wife Bekah. She also leaves behind her beloved grandchildren: Justin, Sophia, Emma, David, Nick, Tessa, Ashlyn (Hunter), Mia, and Izzy; bonus grandchildren: Hunter, Evan, and Jacob; and her great-grandson, Luca.
A graveside service to honor and remember Rita will be 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 15, 2026 at Bixby Cemetery.
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