Rita L. Klees, 68, of Newtown, died peacefully March 29, at Danbury Hospital, after a courageous four-year battle with ALS. She was born on December 15, 1949, in Brooklyn, N.Y.

She will be lovingly remembered by her husband and best friend, Dennis; her stepchildren and their spouses, Maryann and Joseph, and Dennis and Tabatha; four step-grandchildren, Brianna, Kaitlin, Leanna, and Dylan; her siblings and their spouses, Lori and George Gordon, Joan Johnson, and Ralph and Donna Johnson; as well as 15 nieces and nephews.

Her sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and John Hinck, predeceased her.

Ms Klees was awarded a BA degree with a major in accounting by William Paterson University in New Jersey. She was a certified public accountant and had a series of increasingly responsible corporate positions, most recently as director of accounting and financial reporting for a major chemical company. Her loved ones say that among her numerous positive traits, Ms Klees was the most selfless person and was always looking out for others before herself.

Funeral services were April 5, at the Honan Funeral Home, Newtown. Interment will be private.

Memorial donations may be made to the ALS Association of Connecticut at alsact.org.honanfh.com.

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