Rita Schiff

Longtime Brevard area resident Rita Schiff (03/24/1929 - 01/20/2026) passed away peacefully at The Landings of Mills River, two months shy of her 97th birthday. Rita was born in New York City and grew up in Brooklyn.

After obtaining an MA from NYU, Rita married New York businessman Arthur Schiff. In the early 1960’s, the family moved from Scarsdale NY to Africa as Arthur was an administrator in the newly formed Peace Corps. After 6 years in Africa the family moved to Sydney, Australia.

Rita and Arthur returned to the United States in the early 1980s, settling in Brevard NC. Rita was a low handicap golfer, a gifted artist, fantastic cook, and a master point bridge player who loved to participate in the yearly Brevard AAUW book sale. Rita loved to tell stories of her many unique and interesting experiences, some bordering on the unbelievable, but always true. She lived a good, long life and she lived it fully and well.

Rita is predeceased by her husband Arthur; and survived by daughters Joan Axthelm (Dave) of Anderson, SC; and Lisa Schiff of Forster, Australia; Granddaughter Azaria Munro (Andrew) Cumnock, Australia; Great Grandsons Lachlan and James, Cumnock, Australia; and Grandson William Dobson, Australia.

There will be no local services.

The family requests memorial donations be made in the honor of Rita Schiff to Brevard, North Carolina AAUW at AAUW Brevard, P O Box 2316, Brevard, NC 28712.

Moore-Blanchard Funerals & Cremations is honored to serve the family.