Rita K. Clements Obituary (1945 - 2023)

Rita K. Clements, 78, of Erie, PA passed away on November 28, 2023, due to complications from breast cancer and calciphylaxis, a rare disease affecting blood vessels. Rita was born in New Castle, PA on October 28, 1945, to the late Robert and Maxine Probst Clements. She led a long career in the retail industry, with over 25 years in the Erie-area dry cleaner business (Zink, VIP, and Sheptow's Dry Cleaners), then 20 years with K-Mart, primarily at the Grandview location, then five years with DialAmerica. She also spent, for 18 years, a night or two a week working at area bingo games, raising money for St. Mary's and Holy Rosary churches. She excelled at customer service and problem solving, and took pride in relating to anyone she worked with, young or old. Rita was a devoted mother and grandmother, cheering on her grandson, Ja'Juan, all the years he played baseball, and attending the stage performances for her other grandson, JaMaury. She enjoyed going to lunch with friends, playing bingo and card games, and organizing bus trips to casinos. When not busy with family, work, or friends, she enjoyed driving to the pier for some relaxing people and nature watching. She was a friend or mother to all she met, always lending a helping hand. She always found a way. Rita was preceded in death by her parents; her loyal friends, Carolyn A. Thompson, Barbara A. Tynecki, and Judith L. Askins and her husband, Bernard L. Askins, Sr.; and her beloved Maltese-Pekingese, Girlfriend. Survivors include two children, Holly L. Booth and Jason B. Booth, and his wife, Chelsea M. Booth; three grandchildren, Ja'Juan T. Delgado, JaMaury T. Gambill, and Aesha M. Booth, all of Erie. She is further survived by many close friends and former colleagues. Friends may call at Dusckas Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 2607 Buffalo Rd., on Sunday, December 3rd from 12:30 to 2:30 pm. Memorial contributions can be made to Massachusetts General Hospital Calciphylaxis Research at 165 Cambridge Street, Suite 302, Boston, MA 02114 or at giving.massgeneral.org/calciphylaxisresearch CLICK HERE TO PRINT THIS PAGE SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA OR EMAIL