Rita J. Brandt

Rita Jane (Holloran) Brandt
Born July 22, 1924 in Indianapolis, Indiana
Died December 17, 2009 in Denver, Colorado

Mother of five
Grandmother of two
Great grandmother of one
Step grandmother of one
Aunt of dozens
Friend to many

Preceded in death by her son, Kenneth Richard Brandt, and her husband, Thomas George Brandt.
Survived by two brothers; John Holloran of Dayton, Ohio and Thomas Holloran of Phoenix, Arizona;
Three daughters; Barbara Ann Brandt of Denver, Theresa Marie Brandt of Marshall, MIchigan and Mary-Margaret Brandt (Steve Pierce) of Ypsilanti, Michigan, beloved former daughter-in-law Carolyn Brandt of Castle Rock, and a son, Dale Joseph Brandt.
Grandchildren are Suzanne Elizabeth "Elyse" (Brandt) Sokoloff, and Joseph Kenneth Hammar.
Step-grandson Ralph Fleming (Maria)
Great-granddaughter Ellianna Rose Sokoloff.
Step-great-grandson Isaiah Fleming

Rita was a competitive Figure skater in the early days of figure skating (early 1940s) when she competitively skated "pairs" with her brother, Thomas Holloran. She met her brother's friend Thomas Brandt, who skated in the men's "singles" division, and married him in 1945. They had five children.
They moved to Denver in 1958. After some time living in New Mexico, and northern Virginia, they settled in Denver after Tom's retirement.

Rita was a Homemaker and an accomplished seamstress, making many of her family's clothes, including complicated, tailored pieces, often without a pattern, as well as many decorative items for the house. She also knitted dozens of sweaters.

Her main creative interest was oil painting which she started in the late 1960s and continued until shortly before her death, exhibiting in several shows and galleries and winning awards. She also attained a Master's degree in Fine Arts, majoring in Art History after her children were mostly grown.

For the past 15+ years, she volunteered with the Multiple Sclerosis Society's Hydro Therapy program by helping MS patients getting in and out of the pool and navigating the pool for physical therapy and exercise. She especially enjoyed the camaraderie of this group, and felt grateful for her good health and ability to help others.

Until the past three years, she had been active in her garden and household endeavors, and very physically active.

Visitation, Sunday from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM at the Newcomer Funeral Home - West Metro Chapel. Graveside Service, Monday, 9:00 AM at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Staging Area "A", followed by a Memorial Service, Monday 10:00 AM at the Newcomer Funeral Home - West Metro Chapel. Rev. Martin Hunckler, officiating.