Mary C. Rico Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Mary C. Rico, age 90, died peacefully in her sleep at home on Saturday, December 6, 2014 after a long illness. Born in Columbus, OH, she is preceded in death by her parents Paul and Pauline Burkhardt, her brother James and an infant son. She is survived by her devoted husband of 68 years, William Rico and her two sons, James and Paul and her sister-in-law Ruth Burkhardt. Mary and her husband began their lives together in Newark where, after graduating from high school in 1942, she was accepted-and then graduated- from Newark Hospital Nursing School. While Mary was a student in Newark, during the Second World War an urgent call came, asking for help with injured soldiers from the war at the Aspinwall Veterans Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. Mary and her entire class heeded the call for help. Mary worked there for over six months. Mary and William moved to Chicago so that William could complete his education, working as an electrician’s apprentice, and she worked as a nurse in St. Luke’s Hospital. They moved to Columbus in 1948 where William was accepted into the Apprentice Program of Local Union #683. Mary, a member of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Powell, loved dogs, especially German Shepherds. Mary was secretary of the German Shepherd Kennel Club of Central Ohio. She was also a breeder of German Shepherds. She was active in many dog shows. Mary loved to play the piano, sew, read and was an avid bowler with a team of nurses. She worked in many different Columbus-area and Delaware County hospitals as an Emergency Room nurse. She retired in 1977. A Memorial Service will be held at the Chapel of Resurrection Cemetery, 9571 North High Street, Lewis Center, OH 43035 at 10:00a.m. on TUESDAY, December 9, 2014. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Mary’s name to: Ohio Health Hospice, 800 McConnell Drive, Columbus, OH 43214. The Rutherford Funeral Home at Powell, 450 W. Olentangy St., Powell, OH 43065 (614)-792-1471, assisted the family. Please visit www.rutherfordfuneralhomes.com to send condolences to Mary’s family.