Rita D. VanNunen

October 24, 1930 - January 23, 2022

Rita D. VanNunen, age 91, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, January 23, 2022. She was born on October 24, 1930 to Henry and Anne (DeLawrence) Brugnani in Haverhill, MA. As a young woman of 18, Rita was the first of a group of women to be allowed to enroll at the Bentley College of Accounting and Finance-Boston, later earning her accounting degree. Prior to 1948, Bentley College was exclusively for male students. Rita had worked for the City of Norton Shores as the Deputy Finance Director for 19 years and served on the zoning board of appeals after she had retired. She was a member of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) for many years serving as president, vice president and treasurer and was named ABWA’s Woman of the Year by the Lakeshore Chapter in 1980. Rita served on the board of directors at Muskegon Governmental Credit Union for 38 years on the supervisory committee as well as chairperson and treasurer. She also volunteered at the Hackley / Mercy Lobby Side for 30 years. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Roosevelt Park. Rita was well known for her wonderful sense of humor and kindness she showed to everyone with whom she worked and volunteered. Rita enjoyed volunteering, reading, traveling and shopping! On April 27, 1987, she married Arnold VanNunen Jr., and he preceded her in death in May of 2017. SURVIVORS include 3 daughters, Patricia Willey Cattanach, Barbara (Joseph Guilmette) Brugnani and Laura (Richard) Cross; grandchildren, Colleen Willey, Lea (Angelina) DeForte, Alexandra (Scott) Schroeder and Olivia (Yahya) Abedi; great-grandchildren, Isabella, Adelina, Leo Schroeder and Giovanni Abedi; brothers, Hector Brugnani and Edward (Marie) Brugnani, step-son David (Mary) Griesbach. She was also preceded in death by her son, John Willey, son-in-law, Wayne Cattanach, and step-son Mark VanNunen. A FUNERAL SERVICE will be held for Rita at 11:00 AM on Monday, January 31, 2022 at Trinity Lutheran Church (3225 Roosevelt Rd.) with Pastor Paul Appold officiating. VISITATION will take place an hour prior to the service. Family and Friends are invited to remember and celebrate Rita’s life with a luncheon immediately following the service. MEMORIALS can be directed to Westshore Lutheran School or Trinity Lutheran Church. BURIAL will take place at Norton Cemetery. Share memories with the family at www.sytsemafh.com.