Ritamarie Nuhn Obituary

Ritamarie Nuhn, 92 of Mebane, NC, formerly of Callawassie Island, SC, passed away on Sunday, October 26, 2025, in Graham, NC from the effects of Parkinson's.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, November 14, 2025, at St. Gregory the Great in Bluffton, SC beginning at 10:30 AM. Graveside Services will follow at the Beaufort National Cemetery at 2:00 PM. Graveside Service attendees are asked to be at the National Cemetery no later than 1:45 PM.
Ritamarie was born on November 23, 1932, in Cleveland, Ohio to the late Wilma and William Kestner. Although she was an only child, Ritamarie loved being surrounded by her many cousins, family members and friends. She married Perry R. Nuhn of Cleveland, Ohio in 1955. Perry and Rita sat near each other in kindergarten, didn't speak and later met cute over tennis and that was it! She loved being an Airforce wife.
Rita graduated St. John's College in 1955 as a nurse and worked in hospitals and in occupational health. She both volunteered and worked with the Red Cross in disaster nursing and was the head of disaster nursing in Palm Beach County, FL.
Ritamarie loved life and believed in giving back to various charities. She was active in her church and community and loved to sing. She sang in her church choirs and later enjoyed participating in the Callawassie Island community choir. In her retirement, she loved to ride her bike, meet with friends for lunch and laughs, participate in the Blind Squirrels Golf group, and spend time with her children and grandchildren. She and Perry enjoyed travelling and loved to visit old friends around the United States and Europe. She had a wonderful ability to keep old and new friendships alive.
Once the Parkinson's became more aggressive, Ritamarie and Perry moved in with her daughter Carolyn and son in law Rob Kinneen in Mebane, NC. She still managed to keep in touch with friends, host cousins and tell the best stories.
Ritamarie is preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Mary and son Bill. Survivors include: her husband Perry R. Nuhn; children: Carolyn Kinneen and her husband Robert Kinneen and Nancy Laughlin; grandchildren: Mindy Goldstone, Gregory Laughlin and Sylvie Kinneen.
Ritamarie fought hard against Parkinson's – she called it the devil. She hoped that others wouldn't have to fight as hard. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Parkinson's Association or The Michael J. Fox Foundation.