Rita Marie Bjork

"When words fail, music speaks!"

Rita Marie Bjork, 95, of Sea Level, slipped away peacefully on Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at Snug Harbor on Nelson Bay.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday June 10, 2016 at Snug Harbor on Nelson Bay.

Rita was born in Brooklyn, New York and grew up on Long Island. She had a Bachelors Degree in Music and a Masters Degree in Library Sciences. She was an elementary school librarian for 20 years but more importantly a church organist and choir member for over 70 years. She passed her love of music down to her children and grandchildren and reveled in their "porch" concerts, most recently enjoying their talents this past July in Maine. She played the piano for all five weekly church services at Snug Harbor as recently as this past month.

She is survived by her daughter, Marilyn Shuping and husband Mike of Beaufort; two sons, Bruce Bjork and wife Susan of Wells, ME and Alan Bjork and wife Mary Kaye of Parker, CO; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Eric Herbert Bjork; parents, Herman Ernst Strangfeld and Julia Markvart Strangfeld; and a sister, June Ferraro.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the Snug Harbor family who lovingly cared for her these past few years.  She loved them all and was at great peace in her environment.