Rebecca Ruth Bush

Nov. 19, 1927 — Jan. 15, 2013

Rebecca “Becky” Ruth Bush, 85, of Davis passed away peacefully in her sleep on Jan. 15, 2013, in the family home of her oldest daughter, Charmaine Jennings, with whom she had lived the last several years.

Rebecca was born Nov. 19, 1927, to the late Henry and Anna McDaniel in Pittsburgh, Pa. She was one of 11 children.

After graduating from Peabody High School in Pittsburgh, Rebecca began her long and successful career at Saks Fifth Avenue as a talented and highly skilled seamstress. She later took a position at the William Penn Hat and Gown Shop where she developed her special talent for designing and sewing wedding gowns. She shared her dressmaking skills with her daughters and adult students as a sewing teacher at Schenley High School.

In 1946, Rebecca married her sweetheart, the late Roscoe Bush, and together they raised three children: the late Conrad Bush, Charmaine Jennings and Holli DeLauro. In 1982, Rebecca and Roscoe moved west to Sacramento to enjoy semi-retirement. After full retirement from the J.C. Penney Company, Rebecca resettled in Davis, where she lovingly devoted her time to the lives of her children and the grandchildren she adored. As the consummate mother, grandmother and homemaker, she delighted in preparing meals for her family and friends and was widely known as an outstanding cook. Her fresh peach cobbler was legendary! Rebecca especially loved gardening, creating works of art, and tinkering on the piano. As an avid sports fan, she enjoyed watching basketball, baseball and football, and remained a loyal fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Rebecca leaves precious memories to be cherished by her brothers Ralph (Pauline) McDaniel and Horace McDaniel of Pittsburgh, and her sister Anna Comisky of New Jersey. She will be deeply missed by her daughters, Charmaine Jennings and her husband Ronald, and Holli DeLauro and her husband James. Fond memories will live on in her six treasured grandchildren, Emanuel (Heather) Houston, Alan Jennings, Brian Jennings, Morgan Carr, Jacob DeLauro and Jessica DeLauro; two great-grandchildren, Jaheem and Ezekiel Houston; and a host of loving and admiring nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.

Rebecca was preceded in death by her parents; Roscoe Bush, her loving husband of 45 years; her son, Conrad Bush; brothers William McDaniel, Henry McDaniel and Thomas McDaniel; sisters Monica Grinage, Frances Ragin, Henrietta Hill and Jane Little; and her grandson, Daniel Jennings.

The family extends their gratitude to Shareena Edwards and Lynette White who assisted the family in caring for Rebecca during the last few years of her life, and their appreciation to all of the other kind individuals who showed much compassion and care.

Rebecca will always be remembered for her immense generosity, her heartwarming smile and her wonderful sense of humor, which she shared with her family and friends to the very end. Her family deeply appreciates the gift of her presence in their lives.

A celebration of her life is being planned for late spring in her hometown of Pittsburgh. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully asks that memorial donations be sent to The Foundation Aiding the Elderly at http://www.4fate.org.