Rheta A Studer (Miss Rheta), 95, passed away February 9, 2014, with her family by her side in Ft Myers FL. She was born November 15, 1918 in Binghamton, NY to William and Ellen McMahon. Her father was in the newspaper business in Boston, MA. She was raised in Quincy, MA and Binghamton, NY. Rheta graduated from Binghamton General Hospital Nursing Program and became a Registered Nurse. She joined the Army and served as a Captain during World War II, being an integral part of the 96 Evacuation Hospital at St Mere Egliese during the Normandy Invasion. After the war, Rheta continued her nursing career at General Electric and IBM Endicott as a RN. Rheta met the love of her life, her husband, William, while working as an RN at IBM Endicott. She was a great humanitarian and cared deeply for her family, friends and would help anyone who needed aid throughout her life. Rheta is survived by her son, Michael Studer (Tracy, CA and her daughter, Jeanne Ruffo Maloney and her husband Joseph Maloney (Fort Myers, FL). Rheta is also survived by her five grandchildren and two great grandchildren: Kimberly Studer and her son Gavin (CA); Kelsey Ruffo (Patrick Pierce) MD; Ricky Ruffo, (NY); Ashely Studer and her daughter Catelaya, (CA); Christopher Ruffo (PA). She loved her children, her grandchildren, and her great grandchildren dearly. A special thanks to her dr., Dr. Tasha Wallace and her in-home care givers in Fort Myers Florida who provided Rheta with the care, concern, and compassion she deserved. They helped to make her days brighter. Rheta will be missed by all those whose lives she touched. She was preceded in death by her husband William P Studer in 1989.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday 10 am from St. Ambrose Church, 203 Washington Avenue, Endicott. Burial will be in Riverhurst Cemetery, Endicott. The family will receive friends at church Monday from 9 am until Mass time at 10 am. Donations may be sent to the charity of ones choice as all those in need were important to her.