In Memory Of
Anita Pfaff O'Gara
1932
2021
Anita Pfaff O'Gara
November 5, 1932 — January 11, 2021
Anita Louise Pfaff O'Gara was born on November 5, 1932. She passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family, on January 11, 2021 at the age of 88.
Born in St. Mary's, Ohio to Cecil and Dorathy Pfaff, she was raised in a close family with three brothers Gene, David, and Donnie, and a sister Lois Ann. Family gatherings were always important to her. Her parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins would regularly get together to eat, talk, and laugh at the Pfaff farm.
In high school she participated in 4-H, marching band, golf team, and Rainbow Girls. She graduated from Urbana High School in Urbana, Ohio in 1950. She then went on to attend Ohio State University where she played in the concert band and studied Early Childhood Education and Home Economics, graduating in 1955.
During this time, she met the love of her life, Joseph O'Gara. They married in 1955 and enjoyed boating, bowling, playing cards, CB radio, and the Division 8 and K&I Model Railroading Clubs. She worked over the years as a telephone switchboard operator, kindergarten teacher, retail and sales clerk at TG&Y, and a salad bar manager for Kroger. She retired at the age of 78 but took time off in between to raise her children Joey, Kathy, and Maureen. She never missed a field trip, music recital, play, or band concert and was active in the PTA and Band Boosters. Her mothering skills continued in helping with her grandchildren. She went to as many basketball games, soccer matches, gymnastics meets, and dance recitals as she could. She was anxiously awaiting the birth of her fifth great grandchild in February at the time of her passing.
Among the loves of her life – potato chips, chocolate, reading, college basketball & football (particularly Ohio State), Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, and Hallmark Christmas movies – she loved her family the most. Her smile and sense of humor will be missed by many.
She is preceded in death by her husband Joseph John O'Gara; grandparents Arthur and Bertha (Rohrbacher) Pfaff; parents Cecil A. and Dorathy A. (Shaw) Pfaff; brothers David and Donald Pfaff, sister Lois Ann (Pfaff) Ream, and brother-in-law Richard Ream.
She is survived by her brother Gene Pfaff; three sisters-in-law Lucy Pfaff, Liane Pfaff, and Susan Pfaff; children Joey (Debby) O'Gara, Kathy (the late Kevin) Sturgill, and Maureen (Tim) Rhodus; grandchildren Allen Rhodus, Brian Rhodus, Kristi (Brian) Patrick, Kelli (Tyrone) Hines, Kassi Sturgill, Niki Corley, and Amy (Alex) Alagar; great grandchildren Isel Spears, Sydney Spears, Aiden Crawford, and Grayson Bright.
Due to COVID-19, there will be no funeral or ceremonies at this time.
Born in St. Mary's, Ohio to Cecil and Dorathy Pfaff, she was raised in a close family with three brothers Gene, David, and Donnie, and a sister Lois Ann. Family gatherings were always important to her. Her parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins would regularly get together to eat, talk, and laugh at the Pfaff farm.
In high school she participated in 4-H, marching band, golf team, and Rainbow Girls. She graduated from Urbana High School in Urbana, Ohio in 1950. She then went on to attend Ohio State University where she played in the concert band and studied Early Childhood Education and Home Economics, graduating in 1955.
During this time, she met the love of her life, Joseph O'Gara. They married in 1955 and enjoyed boating, bowling, playing cards, CB radio, and the Division 8 and K&I Model Railroading Clubs. She worked over the years as a telephone switchboard operator, kindergarten teacher, retail and sales clerk at TG&Y, and a salad bar manager for Kroger. She retired at the age of 78 but took time off in between to raise her children Joey, Kathy, and Maureen. She never missed a field trip, music recital, play, or band concert and was active in the PTA and Band Boosters. Her mothering skills continued in helping with her grandchildren. She went to as many basketball games, soccer matches, gymnastics meets, and dance recitals as she could. She was anxiously awaiting the birth of her fifth great grandchild in February at the time of her passing.
Among the loves of her life – potato chips, chocolate, reading, college basketball & football (particularly Ohio State), Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, and Hallmark Christmas movies – she loved her family the most. Her smile and sense of humor will be missed by many.
She is preceded in death by her husband Joseph John O'Gara; grandparents Arthur and Bertha (Rohrbacher) Pfaff; parents Cecil A. and Dorathy A. (Shaw) Pfaff; brothers David and Donald Pfaff, sister Lois Ann (Pfaff) Ream, and brother-in-law Richard Ream.
She is survived by her brother Gene Pfaff; three sisters-in-law Lucy Pfaff, Liane Pfaff, and Susan Pfaff; children Joey (Debby) O'Gara, Kathy (the late Kevin) Sturgill, and Maureen (Tim) Rhodus; grandchildren Allen Rhodus, Brian Rhodus, Kristi (Brian) Patrick, Kelli (Tyrone) Hines, Kassi Sturgill, Niki Corley, and Amy (Alex) Alagar; great grandchildren Isel Spears, Sydney Spears, Aiden Crawford, and Grayson Bright.
Due to COVID-19, there will be no funeral or ceremonies at this time.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Anita Pfaff O'Gara, please visit our flower store.
Celebrating The Life Of
Anita Pfaff O'Gara
A beautifully bound keepsake book filled with memories and condolences from family and friends.
Share Your Memory
Contribute your memory to the online guestbook to be featured in this unique keepsake book.
Guestbook
Visits: 5
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors