Mrs. Agnes R. Richter, passed away quietly the morning of April 7, 2003 at Manor Care Skilled Nursing Facility, where she was recovering from a stroke and fall on March 24, 2003.
She is survived by her husband Arthur Richter; four sons: Richard M. Richter (wife Susan) of Maricopa, AZ; Ronald S. Richter (wife Sherrie) of Los Gatos, CA; Randall A. Richter (wife Gladys) of Port Hueneme, CA; and Rodger J. Richter of San Clemente, CA; two daughters: Roxanne M. Larson (husband Marc) of Westminster, CA, and Rebecca L. Coffey of Huntington Beach, CA. Mr. & Mrs. Richter have 18 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Agnes has one remaining immediate family member, her sister Alma Lindl, who resides in Kenosha, WI.
Agnes was preceded in death by her other sole remaining relative, cousin Sister Lucia, who passed away as a Sister in the convent, Istituto Suore Angeliche di San Paolo in Rome, October 19, 2001.
Agnes was born in Scutari, Albania, on January 21, 1921, and arrived in the U.S.A on the liner, Carmania, on October 1, 1923 with her parents, Anton and Jospehine Lazza. As the first in the family to learn English, her parents depended on her to handle whatever transactions that came up for the family. She carried responsibility beginning at age six and throughout her life. She graduated from Whitworth College in Mississippi. Agnes and sister, Alma, had a double engagement, double marriage and double honeymoon with William Lindl and Art Richter, Naval Aviators and best friends, who trained together in the U.S. Navy. The two couples were married July 4, 1949 at St. George Church in Kenosha, WI. Agnes was a very devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother, loved by all who knew her. Her courage, strength, and determination were frequently demonstrated throughout her life. As an example, two years after graduating from college and starting a new job, her husband was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1954. The family had just moved into a new tract home with no yard and no fence. Agnes at that time had three small children and was expecting a fourth child. She did not drive, lived about three miles from the nearest grocery store, did not yet know the neighbors and had no telephone at home. Agnes overlooked her husband's suggestion to sell their new home and return to the Midwest. With the help of kind neighborhood friends and co-workers at Douglas Aircraft (Art's employer), Agnes managed to maintain biweekly family hospital visits for nine months to keep Art's spirits up. This is only one typical example of Agnes' devotion to her family and friends and her determination and ability in overcoming obstacles in her own or her family's life.
In her youth, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Agnes had a great number of friends – friends for life. She played drums in the CYO Marching Band and in all the girls' band of four while in high school during World War II. Visits to Kenosha always included looking up these old and true friends of so many years ago.
Visitation, Rosary and Funeral Mass took place Tuesday, April 15, 2003 at St. Ann's Catholic Church, Seal Beach, CA, followed by interment at The Good Shepherd Cemetery, in Huntington Beach. Agnes was truly a Lady in the old school sense of the word. She knew the Lord and was a daily Mass attendee at St. Anne's Catholic Church. She will be greatly missed by her family and innumerable friends, who knew that she had truly earned her wings as an Angel, in her Lord's domain. "Zoti ju bekofte" forever, Agnes. XOXO.
Dilday Brothers Mortuary assisted the family.