Ret O'Keeffe

Ret Turner O'Keeffe, 87, of Forest Hill, MD, formerly of Aliquippa PA, passed away on March 23, 2014. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she was the daughter of the late John Vine Turner and Thelma Dargan Turner, and wife of the late John E. O'Keeffe Jr.

Ret spent her early childhood in Brazil, attended high school at Stuart Hall in Staunton VA, and returned to Brazil after graduation. She moved to Atlanta following the death of her father, where she met and married Jack O'Keeffe. Ret and Jack lived in Aliquippa, PA from 1948 to 2005. Ret was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Christian Mothers, and the Home Makers club. Her volunteer work included serving as room mother at her children's schools, den mother for her sons' scout troops, teaching English Language Learners at the local library, and Meals on Wheels. She enjoyed writing and pursued coursework at Penn State's Beaver Campus. Ret was talented with a crochet hook and created many treasured afghans. She had a strong love of the beach, reading, bird watching, and movie musicals. Following the death of her husband, Ret lived at Brightview in Bel Air MD where she was generously cared for and loved.

Mrs. O'Keeffe is survived by her sons, Laurence E. O'Keeffe and wife, Brenda of Rex, GA, John T. O'Keeffe and wife, Mary, of Acworth, GA and F. Patrick O'Keeffe and wife, Marianne, of Clifton Heights, PA; daughters, Terese Domenech and husband, Juan, of Forest Hill, MD and Mary O'Keeffe and husband, Joseph Hemler, of Chepachet, RI; brother, John V. Turner Jr. and wife, Peg of Greensboro NC; 13 grandchildren, David, Brendan, Danny, Marisa, Sarah, Caitlin, Megan, Ryan, Molly, May, Lily, Jack and Mary; and great-granddaughter, Sarah Catherine.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to There Goes My Hero Foundation at theregoesmyhero.org.