Rita E. (Frei) Zimmerman, 65, passed away at Reading Hospital after a sudden illness on May 2, 2018.

Born in Reading, she was the daughter of Hildegard (Sattler) Frei and the late Stefan Frei. She was predeceased by her husband David Zimmerman in 2015. She is survived by brothers Stefan J. (Deborah) Frei, and Edward J. Frei, and a sister Maureen D. Frei.

She was a doting aunt to Christopher Frei and Angela (Thomas) Troop.

She was a 1971 graduate of Wilson High School. She attended Shippensburg University and graduated from Pasco Hernando Community College in Dade City, Florida.

She worked for many years at Tropical Sportswear International in Tampa, Florida. Rita and her husband David lived many years in the Tampa Bay area, and she moved back to the Reading area in 2015 after the death of her husband.

Rita will be remembered for her love of all animals, especially cats. In many ways she was the proverbial crazy cat lady.

Rita elected to be cremated and did not want an elaborate service. The family will have a memorial mass and service at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Hillside SPCA, 51 SPCA Road, Pottsville, PA 17901 or Big Cat Rescue, 12802 Easy Street, Tampa, FL 33625, or the animal welfare charity of your choice. Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., West Reading is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhomes.com.