Rita C Horn, 67, of Ventura, CA passed away at home September 23, 2024 due to bile duct cancer. Rita was born on March 6, 1957 in Hackensack, NJ to Carmen and Jose Lopez of Bogota, NJ. She graduated with honors from Bogota High School in 1975 and married her high school sweetheart Thomas Horn in 1980 at St. Joseph’s Church in Bogota. She worked numerous jobs to support her husband’s medical education, and then raised two awesome daughters as a stay-at-home mom. She then went on to earn her Professional Certification in Cooking and Pastry from the Westlake Culinary Institute and taught there as a Culinary Instructor for 13 years. She taught professional cooking and pastry courses, and met and worked with many famous celebrity chefs including Julia Child, Anthony Bourdain, Ina Garten, and Thomas Keller. She enjoyed testing, modifying, and improving famous gourmet recipes with her extensive culinary knowledge and awesome pallet. She eventually retired in 2013 but kept up her culinary skills by spoiling family and friends with delicious treats and feasts over the years.
Rita is survived by her husband of 44 years, Dr. Thomas Horn, her two daughters Rachel Clark and Nicole Walters, and her three grandchildren: Jade Walters, Hudson Walters, and Ethan Clark. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project and Greyfoot Cat Rescue.
Arrangements are under the direction of the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, Ventura.