Rita Maguy

Rita D. Maguy, 83, passed away peacefully in her home on Saturday morning, November 1, 2014. She was born in Chicago, Illinois on December 10, 1930, daughter of John and Kathleen Divane. Rita and her older sister, Kathleen, grew up in Oak Park, Illinois and attended Trinity High School. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, she then earned her Masters Degree in Education from George Washington University in Saint Louis, Missouri. Rita spent 20 years in the Dominican order of the Catholic Church and served throughout the United States and South America. She especially enjoyed her time in Cochabamba, Bolivia were she made life long friendships that she maintained until her death. Rita was married to the love of her life, Bill Maguy, on January 12, 1968. She lived in Visalia for the past 47 years where she and Bill raised two sons and attended more swim meets and water polo matches than she ever cared to count. Rita and Bill were the founding Presidents of the Visalia Buccaneers swim team and saw both their sons attend and play water polo at Stanford University. Rita was a highly respected and much loved teacher. She taught in Visalia for over 25 years, beginning as a sixth grade at Mt. View Elementary School and then as a seventh and eighth grade history teacher at Valley Oak Junior High School. She was an active member of AAUW and a volunteer at the health center at the Samaritan Center. She was an avid bridge player who loved playing with her "Bridge Group Ladies" and going to lunches with the "Birthday Group". Rita never lost her spirit of adventure or her quest to learn new skill. She took up golf in her 40's, snow skiing and waterskiing in her 50's and even learned to belly dance in her 70's! Rita is survived by her two sons and daughters-in-law; Chuck and Karen Maguy of Redondo Beach, CA; Billy Maguy and Lisa Alipaz of Moraga, CA. She has four grandchildren, Sophie and Charlotte Maguy; Ali Marie and Will Maguy. She is preceded in death by her husband, William M. Maguy, and her sister, Kathleen McDonald. She is also survived by her nieces Rita Russell, Kathleen Butler, Anne Diaz and nephew, David McDonald. A Mass in her memory will be held on Friday, November 7, 2014 at 10:30a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 608 N. Church Street, Visalia, CA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Samaritan Center, 200 NW 3rd Avenue, Visalia CA 93291 (559) 733-7331. Tributes and condolences may be made at www.hadley-marcom.com. Arrangements entrusted to Hadley-Marcom Funeral Chapel, 1700 West Caldwell Avenue, Visalia, CA 93277 (559) 625-8900.