Obituary of Rita Mae Palmer

Rita Mae Byrne Palmer, 89, passed into the arms of Jesus on September 20, 2023 after happily loving her husband Vince, family, friends and fellow church goers. Rita was born in Erie, PA on May 11, 1934 to Helen Katherine Spanner Byrne and Vincent George Byrne. She graduated from Millcreek High School in 1952. Rita desired to become a nurse, but instead chose marriage and starting a family with Vincent L. Palmer after his discharge from the Navy in October 1954. Her family included three sons: Vincent Jr. (Christine) of Glassboro NJ, John (Gilma) of Raleigh, NC, and Daniel (Barbara) of Wilson, NC. She is survived by seven grandchildren: Dan, Adam, Lauren, Leanne, Kate, Mark, Chloe and six great-grandchildren: Jermaine, Libby, Drew, Teddy, Micah and Hazel. She was preceded in death by her siblings: Betty, Richard, Charlotte, Marie, Vincent and a granddaughter, Colleen. As a young woman, she was a bookkeeper at GC Murphy, then raised her family before serving at a city mission and a home for unwed mothers. Being a devout Christian, she worshipped at Grace Baptist Church, Garden Heights Baptist Church, and First Church of God in Erie, PA. Rita enjoyed spending hours baking and refinishing furniture. The family will conduct a private memorial service at Kelly Funeral Home in Pitman, NJ, with interment at Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery in Erie, PA.