Rita Mae French's Obituary
Rita Mae French “Anela”
August 8, 1952 – June 21, 2026
Rita Mae French, lovingly known as “Anela,” passed away on June 21, 2026, at 2:05 p.m. in Hilo, Hawaii, surrounded by love and peace. She was born on August 8, 1952, in Billings, Montana, and lived a life marked by love, resilience, generosity, and devotion to family.
Rita was the best mother, a best friend, and a safe place for those she loved. She was the person her family could talk to about anything, and she gave herself fully to the people in her life. If you knew Rita, you knew her heart. She had a rare gift for loving others deeply and without condition, and she lived each day with the purpose of being love in every thought and deed.
Though she came from a difficult childhood, Rita chose healing. She broke generational cycles and became a source of comfort, strength, and compassion for others. She gave endlessly to friends, strangers, and anyone in need, whether that meant helping with doctor’s appointments, groceries, medicine, food, clothing, or simply her time. Her selflessness touched countless lives, and this year she was honored with an award recognizing the impact she made in the lives of others.
Rita was also incredibly talented and creative, with a true passion for photography. She had a remarkable eye for beauty and a way of capturing moments that reflected the wonder she saw in the world. She loved angels, turtles, anything that symbolized love, and most of all, she loved her family. She was known for her warmth, her tenderness, her beautiful dresses, her long natural hair, and her hazel eyes that held both depth and kindness.
Rita worked harder than anyone who knew her could imagine. From physically demanding jobs such as CDL driving and pilot car work to caring for everyone around her, she lived with strength, determination, and grace. Even in the hospital, she said, “I’m not a quitter,” and she lived those words until the end. Her final moments were filled with love, comfort, and peace, and her family will forever hold close the blessing of being with her as she passed.
She is survived by her sister Barb of Bozeman, Montana; sister Rose and Mark Sande of Three Forks, Montana; brother Dale and Juanita Farnes of Kansas; son Jonathan and Darlene Nunn of Kalispell, Montana; son Joshua and Melissa Nunn of Marion, Montana; son Jory and Mary Nunn of Soldatna, Alaska; and daughter Brenna Joy Hulse of Midland, Texas. She also leaves behind 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren who were deeply loved by her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Raleigh Farnes and Anne Hanel Farnes of Grassrange, Montana.
Rita was blessed to live her final days in the one true place her heart cherished most, Hawaii, where she passed surrounded by the beauty and peace she loved. She will be remembered for the love she gave so freely, the lives she touched, and the beauty she brought into the world. Her legacy lives on in her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all those blessed to know her.
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