Mrs. Ramona Strech, age 88, of Hope, Arkansas passed away, Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at Hillcrest Care & Rehab in Prescott, Arkansas, following a lengthy illness.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Strech, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ulrich, a sister, Francelia Ulrich, and her infant granddaughter, Dolly McGhee.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Molly and Keith McGhee of Hope, Arkansas, her granddaughter, Mary McGhee of Hope, Arkansas, her great granddaughter, Silbi Jones of Hope, Arkansas, and her sister, Marjorie Bornhoeft of River Grove, Illinois.
Mrs. Strech was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, where she began her musical training at a very young age. She and her husband, Arthur, met and married in California. They adopted their daughter, Molly, in 1959, then moved to the Hope area in 1963, where they opened their real estate office, Strech Realty, Inc. Mrs. Strech was co-owner and broker of Strech Realty until 1991, when she retired from the real estate profession.
She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Hope, Arkansas, having served as church organist there for 35 years. During her early tenure at the church, she also served as Director of Music Ministry, Choir Director, and Handbell Director. She played for countless weddings and funerals in the community and accompanied numerous Community Theatre productions of major Broadway Musicals, to include, “Oliver”, “The King and I”, “Music Man”, “Oklahoma”, and “The Sound of Music”, for the Southwest Arkansas Arts Council. She was a member of the former Hope Friday Music Club, Chapter AE-P.E.O., and a former member of the Hope B.&P.W. Club. In 1991, she was selected by the Arkansas Federations of Music Clubs as “Church Musician of the Year”. For her tireless and unselfish community service, the City of Hope proclaimed April 28, 1991, as “Ramona Strech Day”.
She had a love and passion for music, life, her church, her family, and friends, that will be fondly remembered and never forgotten. She always had a smile and kind words and deeds for everyone she knew and met.
Visitation will be on Friday, December 21, 2012, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, at Brazzel/Oakcrest The Funeral Home of Hope. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 22, at 10:00 am, at the First United Methodist Church, Hope, Arkansas, with Dr. Tandy Hanson and Rev. Steve Johnson officiating. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery, Hope. Arrangements by Brazzel/Oakcrest the Funeral Home of Hope, Eddie Brazzel, Director. Online guestbook: www.brazzelfuneralhomes.com.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Music Ministry and Children’s Ministry of First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 400, Hope, Arkansas 71802.
The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude and thanks for the loving care and kindness that Mrs. Strech received from the staff of Hillcrest Care and Rehab, Dr. Michael C. Young, and Dr. Dale Goins, your unselfish Christian acts of caring and kindness will never be forgotten.
