Rita Williams Zavislan

Parker - Rita Williams Zavislan passed away Thursday, September 26th, 2024 after a brief illness.

She was born December 26th, 1929 in Devils Slide, Utah to Victor Terrance Williams and Rita Stevens Williams and spent her childhood there with her two sisters Helen and Dorothy.  She moved to Florence, Colorado in 1945 when her father was assigned to run the local cement plant. She graduated Florence High School in 1948 as class valedictorian.

While in Florence she met Bernard (Bernie) Zavislan and they married in June, 1950, living first in Denver, then Englewood and finally Littleton.

Rita was a caring and loving wife, mother and grandmother.  She supported her children, Kathy, Mike and Jim, physically, intellectually and emotionally, giving them stability even as Bernie struggled with alcoholism.  She imbued in them a strong work ethic and a commitment to do their best. 

Rita had many careers: programmer of early accounting computers at Wright McGill where she met President Eisenhower, professional seamstress and upholsterer, accountant for a travel agency, Travel Associates, in Cinderella City, and construction company executive with Zig Zag Concrete Sawing.

In 1974 Bernie and Rita started Zig Zag Concrete Sawing and Coring.  Initially, Bernie and their sons, Mike and Jim, did the work and Rita managed the office.  Rita took over managing the company in 1980 when Bernie’s health declined.  In 1984 Rita was awarded the Denver Business Woman of the year for her leadership at Zig Zag.  She sold Zig Zag in early 90’s and began working part-time at The Meridian senior living and assisted living apartments.

Rita was as an accomplished seamstress and loved making clothes, curtains and furniture coverings for her home, herself, her family and numerous customers.  Fabric stores and her basement sewing room were two of her “very happy places”.

Rita also loved to read and travel.  She traveled extensively in the US both with her children and grandchildren and to visit family.   Later in life, Rita had macular degeneration in both eyes, a condition that limited her activities, but did not take away her sense of humor or her joy in connecting with friends and family. Her commitment to helping others with this condition led her to start a low-vision group at her home at Lincoln Meadows.

Surviving are two children: Kathy Zavislan and Jim (Jeanette) Zavislan, daughter-in-law: Kathy Zavislan, four grandchildren: Katrina (Luke) Van Atta, Stefan (Sarah) Zavislan, Andrea (Arron Perkins) Zavislan and Tessa (Gabe Papadatos) Zavislan and two great grandchildren: Jameson and Clifton.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son, Mike, and sisters.

Funeral services and interment at Littleton Cemetery will be at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in Rita’s memory can be made to “Friends of Colorado Talking Books” (https://www.friendsofctbl.org/form.htm)

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