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Rita Canham, 49, a resident of Rio Rancho since 1984, passed away on Wednesday, March 4, 1998, peacefully at the family home in the presence of her loving family after a courageous 18 month battle with multiple myeloma. Rita was born May 22, 1948, the daughter of Oracio and Corine Santillanes Mora in Albuquerque. She graduated from Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic High School in Bernalillo in 1965, a member of the last class to graduate from that school. She was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic parish in Rio Rancho, where some years ago she had been a CCD instructor and was, until her passing, a member of the Spanish choir. Rita had been employed at Honeywell Corporation for 16 years, where she served as an auditor. Rita was longtime supporter of the activities of the Knights of Columbus throughout the State of New Mexico. Her battle with cancer took her to Tucson, Arizona for two months from February through April, 1997, during which time she underwent a bone marrow transplant at the University Medical Center. She is survived by Charles, her loving husband of 25 years; her daughters, Lori and Kristi, all of the family home. She is also survvied by her parents, Oracio and Corine Mora of Bernalillo; brother, Martin Acosta and his wife, Lucille of Bernalillo. She is also survived by numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, and countless friends. Rita was preceded in death by her sister, Gloria Marquez. A Rosary will be recited on Monday, March 9, 1998, 7:00 p.m., at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, with the Mass of resurrection to be celebrated on Tuesday, March 10, 1998, 10:30 a.m., at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, with Fr. Tien-Tri Nguyen as the Celebrant. The family requests, that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Rita's name to the International Myeloma Foundation, 2120 Stanley Hills Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90046. Arrangements by Vista Verde Mortuary, Sara Rd., at Meadowlark Ln., Rio Rancho.
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