Neoma Geraldine Rude

Neoma, who was known as Babe in her school days in Holbrook, NE carried that nickname throughout her life, partly because those that didn’t know her always wanted to call her Naomi, passed away peacefully with her three surviving sons and two of their wives by her side.Neoma was predeceased by her parents, Louis and Nettie Klein, her husband, Kenneth Rude, and her son, Mitch Rude. She is survived by Kent (Ginny) of Needham, MA; daughter-in-law, Lynne of Ware, MA; Brian (DeDe) of Colorado Springs, and Kevin (Bobbi) of Salt Lake City; grandchildren Zachary Rude of Babylon, Long Island, NY; Monica (Martin) Gallego Rude of Jamaica Plain, MA; Lindsey (Patrick) McKenna of Colorado Springs; Hannah Rude (Brendon Boutin) of Phoenix, AZ;  Emily Rude of Needham; and Abigail Begin (Tim) of Charlestown, MA; two step-grandsons, Matthew (Danielle) Mashek of Highlands Ranch, CO and Christopher Mashek of Fairbanks, AK; and three great grandchildren: Raquel Gallego Rude, Caleb McKenna, and Jorge Gallego Rude. She much enjoyed seeing the antics of her great grandchildren on Zoom or Facetime. She was also very close to the Trombley clan of Minnesota through her close relationship with the patriarch, Ed, who died in 1999. 

Neoma grew up on a farm outside Holbrook, NE, and in town with her grandmother, Anna Wolfe. Neoma moved to Denver for nursing school as college didn’t seem possible to a depression-era farm girl. She enjoyed nurses training, but soon decided that her real calling was to be a wife and mother. She made homes for her growing brood as it moved from Denver to Montrose to Salida and then back to Denver and was known for hosting birthday parties, complete with themed cakes, and attending thousands of athletic events.

As an empty nester she entered the world of work as a teacher’s aide and then at the Gates Rubber Company. She and Ken loved to travel and planned to retire somewhere warm. After he died in 1988, she followed that dream and became a snowbird to Arizona and later a fulltime resident of Mesa, Arizona. Family was her primary interest and she loved attending weddings and participating in holidays around the USA. A favorite memory for all who attended was her dancing at a wedding in her 90’s and commenting, “It’s amazing what margaritas can do!” Sports were important, also; initially the Broncos where she had season tickets for years and then the Rockies where she, as is true for many Coloradans, was constantly disappointed by their divestiture of talent. 

She went on many a trip with Ken, her husband, and then after his death, with Ed, a soulmate she met in Arizona. Her happy place was Mexico and she loved to be in Mazatlan and Guayabitos. Her ideal vacation involved the Mexican coast where she could sit with a margarita in hand watching the sun set into the Pacific Ocean.

The Committal Service in Colorado will be on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 11:00 am at Ft Logan National Cemetery, meeting at Staging Area "A" at 10:45 AM  Where Neoma will joining her husband, Kenneth. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Flutie Foundation for Autism (MA), the Price Center (Newton, MA), Camp Horizons (CT) or any other agency that supports kids/adults with autism or a charity of your choice.

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