September 4, 1944 – March 29, 2025
Rita Ann Deckman Palmer, loving wife, mother and grandmother
Bradford PA- Rita Ann Deckman Palmer of Bradford, PA, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the Olean General Hospital surrounded by her loving children and family after a long illness.
Rita was born in Olean on September 4, 1944, the daughter of the late Leo and Helen Kittleman Deckman. On November 24, 2006, she married Edward Palmer, who survives.
She attended Olean High School and then worked several jobs, including Heritage Cutlery and Red & Trudy’s, before becoming self-employed as a personal care aide for several people. Rita used to love going on long-haul trucking trips with her husband Ed all around the country. She dearly loved her family and enjoyed spending time with them. She also loved her dogs, Corky, Max and Ariel.
Rita is survived by her husband, Edward; her children Pastor Dennis (Tammy) Gray of Forty Fort, PA, Denise (Chris) Travis of Olean, Gregory (Ruthanne) Gray of Schaefferstown, PA, Michelle (James) Schulz of Salamanca; 9 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and cousins, all whom she dearly loved; and her siblings, Robert (Betsy) Deckman, Donald (Molly) Deckman, Ann (Terry) Price, Dan (Linda) Deckman, Barbra (David) Styles and Fred Deckman.
She was predeceased by her parents, Leo and Helen; her first husband, Ernest Gray, father of her beloved children; and husbands, Harry Hutchison and Richard Gross; a brother, Jeff Deckman and a sister, Debbie Deckman.
At Rita’s request, there will be no formal services but a Celebration of her Life will be held this summer at a date and time to be announced.
Memorials, if desired may be made to the Cattaraugus County SPCA 2944 Route 16 N, Olean, NY 14760.
A special thank you to the OGH ICU unit and the comfort care doctors and nurses.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Guenther Funeral Home Inc., 1303 E. State St., Olean. Online condolences may be expressed at guentherfh.com.
