It is with great admiration that we celebrate the life of our (Maria) Rita Kirby. Rita was born on July 3, 1928 to Joseph and Lena (nee Sameletski) Morin and was the youngest of five children - Elizabeth (Toots), Agnes, Dora, and George.
In her early years she helped her mother Lena run the family farm. Rita became an entrepreneur early in life and enjoyed running the local telephone office in Rosthern, Saskatchewan. She met Michael Kirby through that office, moved to Calgary, Alberta, and they married January 9, 1954 and raised two boys, John and Tim.
While the boys were growing up she worked as an accountant and was an amazing homemaker – Rita and Mike’s home was the meeting place for extended family. The "den mother" to many wayward students and boarders, and nieces and nephews, she took her great niece Dawn Holly Crabtree (nee Johnson) under her wing after Dawn lost her mother. 
In later life, she was a well-loved fixture running the Lottery Booth at MarketMall.
In retirement, Rita and Mike moved to Gibsons, BC and enjoyed the rarefied air the Sunshine Coast, the Women’s Bridge Leagues, ever-present deer in the yard and the social life of living "on the Crest" at Georgia Mirage. 
She will be remembered for her generosity to any and all causes, especially the Anglican Church (St. Bartholomew) and the BC Cancer Society.
Her concern for others, quick wit and easy laugh will be greatly missed. Rita passed away May 16, 2015 at the age of 86 years. We have lost a dear soul –a beloved matriarch of the Kirby-Morin-Tingley families.
She is survived by husband Mike, son John (Michele) grandchildren Dillon and Ryan, son Tim (Marion) grandchildren Mike and Brittany and “adopted daughter” Dawn (Terry) children Moorea and Tasha and her sister Agnes.
Special thanks to Dr. Robert Lehman, Cathy Berke and her VCH home support team and especially Marion Wittmann for all the care and support to Rita in her final days.
Donations to the BC Cancer Society in her name are appreciated.