Rita Kjell Howell, 80, also affectionately known as Mormor by everyone who knew her, passed away peacefully on the night of January 15th, surrounded by her family following a prolonged period of illness.
Rita was born in Uddevalla, Sweden in 1943. She was a world traveler in her early years. Moving from country to country, she would find a job, learn the language of that country, and spent her time appreciating the culture, making friends, and dancing. She lived in many different countries over the years including Italy, France, and England, where she met the love of her life, a US airman by the name of Jack Howell.
After falling in love, they moved to the United States, where they had 3 daughters. For years she was a homemaker, where she spent her time sewing, cooking, and raising her 3 girls.
She was the daughter of the late Herbert Kjell and Anna Maria Gustafsson Kjell. She was also preceded in death by a daughter Tina Howell Carter, three grandchildren: Joshua James Moody, Sarah McKenzie Moody, and James Major Moody, and a sister Vivi Rose Brigatta.
She was an active member of her church, Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. She served as the Sunday school clerk, a member of her beloved sewing group “The Pleasant Valley Sewing Sisters”, and loved cooking in the kitchen there with all of her friends.Rita was a sales consultant with the former Waycross Christian Bookstore for several years.
She lived her life to the fullest, spreading the love of Christ to everyone she came into contact with. She is remembered by her contagious smile and her abundantly rare kindness and generosity. She will be missed by all who knew her.
Survivors include her husband of 59 years, Jack B. Howell of Waycross; 2 daughters, Terri Howell Moody (husband James) of Nahunta and Patsy Howell Eads (husband Josh) of Richmond Hill, GA; five grandchildren: Erica King (husband Timmy) of Blackshear, Dylan Thomas (wife Heather) of Waycross, Taylor Moody of Nahunta, GA, Bryce Eads and Grant Eads both of Richmond Hill, GA; four great grandchildren: Eli King, Laynee King, Wyatt Thomas, and Carson Thomas; a brother: Lasse Kjell of Uddevalla, Sweden, nieces, nephews and other relatives.
In lieu of flowers memorial may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.act.alz.org,
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 Am Saturday (January 20, 2024) at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 9:45 until 10:45 Saturday morning at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. Memorialization will be by cremation.
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Sympathy can be expressed by posting to her tribite wall at www.musicfuneralhome.com.
To share a memory or send a condolence gift, please visit the Official Obituary of Rita Kjell Howell hosted by Music Funeral Home.
Rita Kjell Howell, 80, also affectionately known as Mormor by everyone who knew her, passed away peacefully on the night of January 15th, surrounded by her family following a prolonged period of illness.
Rita was born in Uddevalla, Sweden in 1943. She was a world traveler in her early years. Moving from country to country, she would find a job, learn the language of that country, and spent her time appreciating the culture, making friends, and dancing. She lived in many different countries over the years including Italy, France, and England, where she met the love of her life, a US airman by the name of Jack Howell.
After falling in love, they moved to the United States, where they had 3 daughters. For years she was a homemaker, where she spent her time sewing, cooking, and raising her 3 girls.
She was the daughter of the late Herbert Kjell and Anna Maria Gustafsson Kjell. She was also preceded in death by a daughter Tina Howell Carter, three grandchildren: Joshua James Moody, Sarah McKenzie Moody, and James Major Moody, and a sister Vivi Rose Brigatta.
She was an active member of her church, Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. She served as the Sunday school clerk, a member of her beloved sewing group “The Pleasant Valley Sewing Sisters”, and loved cooking in the kitchen there with all of her friends.Rita was a sales consultant with the former Waycross Christian Bookstore for several years.
She lived her life to the fullest, spreading the love of Christ to everyone she came into contact with. She is remembered by her contagious smile and her abundantly rare kindness and generosity. She will be missed by all who knew her.
Survivors include her husband of 59 years, Jack B. Howell of Waycross; 2 daughters, Terri Howell Moody (husband James) of Nahunta and Patsy Howell Eads (husband Josh) of Richmond Hill, GA; five grandchildren: Erica King (husband Timmy) of Blackshear, Dylan Thomas (wife Heather) of Waycross, Taylor Moody of Nahunta, GA, Bryce Eads and Grant Eads both of Richmond Hill, GA; four great grandchildren: Eli King, Laynee King, Wyatt Thomas, and Carson Thomas; a brother: Lasse Kjell of Uddevalla, Sweden, nieces, nephews and other relatives.
In lieu of flowers memorial may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.act.alz.org,
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 Am Saturday (January 20, 2024) at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 9:45 until 10:45 Saturday morning at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. Memorialization will be by cremation.
.
Sympathy can be expressed by posting to her tribite wall at www.musicfuneralhome.com.
To share a memory or send a condolence gift, please visit the Official Obituary of Rita Kjell Howell hosted by Music Funeral Home.
