Rita B. Ward

Rita B. Ward, a lifelong resident of Danbury, CT, passed away peacefully at Bethel Healthcare Center on October 28, 2024. She was 78 years old.
Rita was born on December 15, 1945 in Danbury, CT, daughter of the late George Barnes and Thelma Jackson. Rita was a graduate of Danbury High School and attended college in Washington D.C.

Rita was married to Kaye Ward Jr., who predeceased her in 1985. She held a variety of careers over her lifetime, including working at Davis and Geck until the company closed. Later, she dedicated many years as a direct caregiver, providing compassionate assistance to many individuals until her retirement. Rita was a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother; her family was everything to her. She was a devoted foster parent and an "adoptive"; parent, aunt, and grandparent to many. Rita loved playing card games, especially UNO, Pokeno, and Left-Right-Center with her family.
She also loved working on word searches and jigsaw puzzles. She enjoyed entertaining, cooking, crocheting, and volunteering at local food pantries. If she wasn’t outside visiting or on the phone with her loved ones, you could find her watching her favorite game shows, Little House on the Prairie, or a Madea movie.

Rita is survived by her beloved children: Christine Brown, Valarie Ward, and Lamont Ward; her six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; her siblings: William Barnes (Janice), Kerzent Barnes (Doreen), Carmen Lopes (Benjamin), Gloria Garcia, Adela Rosado, and her brother-in-law Carl Jarrett; and her best friends, Joyce Farmer and Patricia Hope. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, her son Danny K. Ward, her son-in-law Milton A. Brown, and her siblings: John Barnes, George Barnes, Lannie Barnes, Vanessa Jarrett, Delia Rosado, and Santos Rosado.

A celebration of life gathering will be held on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at New Hope Baptist Church from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., with a service beginning at 11:00 a.m. Interment of her ashes will follow at Wooster Cemetery (20 Ellsworth Avenue). Danbury Memorial Funeral Home (117 South Street) assisted the family with arrangements. Please visit www.danburymemorial.com to send condolences to the family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rita B. Ward, please visit our floral store.