Rita S. Markham

Port Leyden- Rita Schoff Markham, 90, a longtime resident of West Road, Constableville, and later West Road, Turin, and more recently a resident of Whitton Place Apartments, Port Leyden, widow of Robert, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 25, 2015, at St. Joseph's Hospital, Syracuse, after a short illness, surrounded by family. She was born in West Leyden on February 29, 1924, a daughter of Henry and Sarah Haver Schoff. Rita grew up in West Leyden and graduated from West Leyden Central High School in 1941. In 1944, Rita graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor's Degree in Education. For two years thereafter, Rita taught Home Economics in Bath, New York. On August 3, 1946, she was united in marriage with Robert W. Markham, at St. Mary's Rectory in West Leyden. After their marriage they brought up their children on the family farm on West Road. In 1974, she began her long career as a nutritionist for the North Country Children's Clinic, retiring in 1997. Rita's life was centered on her children and her Catholic faith. She made everyone feel like they were her favorite. She was a member of the Altar and Rosary Society and the Turin Civic Club and served as a longtime volunteer at Matthew's Place Ministries Store in Boonville. She was a member of The Lewis County Historical Society and served as a volunteer for Lewis County Hospice. Rita also enjoyed playing cards and dominos. She was so active and independent that her children had to make an appointment to take her to lunch. Rita is survived by four daughters (Judy Fox, Mary Markham, Donna and Larry Dolhof, and Beth and Anthony Cilluffo) and eleven sons (Jim and Pat, Scott and Penny, Mick and Robin, Joe and Andrea, Chuck, Ed and Dorryann, Pete and Lisa, Dave and Chris, Bill and Michelle and Andy and Sonya). Rita was predeceased by her husband, Robert, in 1999 and a son and daughter in law, Steve and Sandy (Houghton) Markham, in 2007. Also surviving are 46 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by three brothers, Erwin, Carl and James Schoff; and two sisters, Loretta Opper and Irene Freeman. Her Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at St. Martin's Church, Port Leyden. Interment will be in the spring in Turin Cemetery. Calling hours are Friday 1-5 & 7-9 p.m. at Trainor Funeral Home, Inc. 143 Schuyler St. Boonville. There will be a wake service and a recitation of the rosary starting at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Martin's Church, Port Leyden, to St. John's Church, Lyons Falls, or to Friends of Lewis County Hospice, P.O. Box 266, Lowville, NY 13367. For an on-line message of sympathy, or to share a memory of Rita, please go to www.trainorfuneralhome.com