Rita Marie Higdon

Rita Marie Dorenzo Higdon, 79, passed peacefully on October 9th surrounded by family & loved ones in her Chandler, AZ home. Rita was a Detroit native retired from Arizona State University where she was an Assistant Student Advisor with the Department of Justice Studies. She was also a thirteen year volunteer at the Chandler Christian Community Center Food Bank coordinating and sorting the donations from people and organizations from the valley. Rita was preceded in death by her husband of 21 years, Joe Higdon. She leaves behind daughters, Laura Keith Fitzsimmons of Overland Park, KS; Cheryl Maros of Phoenix, AZ; Paula Maros of Chandler, AZ; and son, John Maros of Mt. Washington, KY, two sisters and a brother from Detroit, MI; Granddaughter, Shelby Maros; Grandsons, Andy Fitzsimmons, Jonathon Maros and Conner Maros; special friends who are like family, Dawn Lesperance and Shirley Dake. Memorial services will be held at Meldrum Mortuary, 52 N. Macdonald, Mesa, AZ on Friday, November 25, 2016 At 1:00 pm. Rita was known to many to be generous and giving. To honor her, in lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Chandler Christian Community Center Food Bank Chandlerfoodbank.org or Hospice of the Valley hov.org.