Rita J. Zaychowski, 83, of Oil City, died Wednesday, May 24, 2017, at UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh due to an extended illness.

Born January 4, 1934 in Oil City, she was a daughter of the late Frank and Joanna Paciorkiewicz Zaychowski.

Rita graduated from Oil City High School and the Spencer Nursing School in Meadville, where she obtained her Registered Nursing degree.

In her early career, she spent time nursing in Long Beach CA, working in the pediatric unit.

Rita then returned to Oil City to live with her two brothers and continued her career as a Registered Nurse at the Oil City Hospital and Franklin Hospital, specializing in the operating room. She retired in 1993.

She was a long-time member of St Stephen Church.

Rita was a dedicated animal lover and a loyal advocate from many animal protection agencies, her favorite being the Venango County Humane Society.

She enjoyed her fur babies, her dog “Tommy” and her cat “Gus”.

Surviving are her fur babies, Tommy and Gus, and her close friend Colleen (she called her big little sister) Karnish and her husband Cas, and her friend Hillary Krizon.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Frank Zaychowski, Jr. and Raymond Zaychowski.

Friends may call at the Morrison Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 30th, from 4 to 7 pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am Wednesday in St. Stephen Church.

Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Venango County Humane Society.

Please visit the Tribute Wall at www.morrisonhome.com to share a memory or leave a condolence.