Rita E. Awkerman

Rita E. Awkerman, age 92 of Massillon, passed away on Saturday, January 18, 2014. She was born in Massillon on June 6, 1921 and was the daughter of the late Joseph and Helen (Donant) Friedrich. Rita was a longtime resident of Huntingdon, PA, returning to the Massillon area in 2011. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ted Awkerman and her brothers, Rev. Fr. Ralph Friedrich, Paul Friedrich and Jim Friedrich. She is survived by her daughter Bev and Burk Taulien of Tennessee, her grandchildren, Joanne Manning and Cevin of Florida and Chris and Haley Fiske of Tennessee, her great grandchildren, Connor and Abigail Fiske, her sister-in-law, Joanne Friedrich and many nieces, nephews and cousins. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 A.M. at St. Joseph Catholic Church 322-3rd Street SE in Massillon on Saturday, January 25, 2014. Revs. Fr. Raymond Paul and Fr. Donald Feicht will concelebrate the Mass. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church from 10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M. before the Mass. In lieu of flowers, donation can be made to the Maryknoll Missions, PO Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0302 or Catholic Charities of Stark County, 3112 Cleveland Avenue NW, Canton, OH 44709. Messages of love and support may be sent to www.paquelet.com. Paquelet Funeral Home & Crematory 330-833-3222