Colorado Springs Independent Living Resident of the Month Rita

Meet Melody Living’s Colorado Springs independent living resident of the month, Rita Burris! We love getting to know each of our residents here at Melody Living and we hope you enjoy getting to know more about Rita as our featured resident.
 
Rita was born in Michigan and grew up in a small, midwest town. When Rita was younger, her father worked as a police officer. She remembers her father also had a glass eye and was responsible for checking out the local bars to make sure everyone was safe.

​She went to Royal Oak High School and attended a nursing college in Michigan where she graduated class of  '66. Rita was a nurse for 35 years in Michigan before she moved to California where she worked as a special education nurse. She provided medical care to children in school for more than 23 years. 

​She has four boys; two by birth and two by love. Rita also has a handful of grandchildren, some of whom live close by. Rita has always had dogs throughout her life. Her last dog was a wonderful Corgi-Mix named Max, he was 14 years old when he crossed the Rainbow Bridge. She’s grateful to have been able to rescue many dogs throughout her life.
 
Rita said the historical event that had the most significance to her was the assassination of JFK, which took place while she was in High School. She remembers getting a few days off of school after that and following the news on the television and other news sources.
 
Rita’s greatest accomplishment in life, other than her boys, was the work she did with her special education medical career in California. She loved the work she did with the kids and was overjoyed to share happiness with them. She specifically mentioned two of her charges, Albert and Enrique. She shared stories of making them laugh and reading Enrique the book, “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.” She also learned some Spanish while she lived in California.
 
She has been to every continental U.S. state and used to travel to Mexico for holidays. Rita also enjoyed visits to Canada via an underwater tunnel when she lived in Michigan. She isn’t particularly fond of holidays, but if she had to choose, she would say Easter because she gets to paint eggs. Rita enjoys making art, specifically watercolors.
 
Rita retired and moved to Colorado Springs almost on the same day. Her son helped her into a different retirement community in Colorado Springs, that she described as run down. She says Melody Living is much nicer and she is happy she was able to find us. Rita loves the people here and is very happy that we have a gym, she misses having a park to walk through so she is grateful she can get her exercise in and take advantage of our beautiful walking paths.
 
Rita’s advice to others is, “If you want a smokin' hot body, get cremated.”
 
We hope you join us and discover a Life in Harmony™ like Rita has with Melody Living independent living. To learn more,  visit our contact page or call us at 719.900.1540.