Condolence: I have a photograph of Aunt Rita that I took when she wasn't looking; it was after dinner when I visited her in NYC and it's dark out and her hair is blowing across the face in the wind and it was just so her that I had to take the picture. Thank you for all of the emails, the visits, the stories, the laughs, the connection that we built across a distance. You will be tremendously missed.

Condolence: I will alway miss my Aunt Rita! I was lucky to get to know her as an adult. We had wonderful talks about art, gardening, politics and so much more. But what I will remember her the most for is the undying love of her daughter’s and her fur babies!! She would always talk of her grandchildren with such pride and love. Her quirky sense of humor was always a breath of fresh air for she always called a spade a spade but with great wit that sometimes you just could not stop laughing. Shannon & Genevieve my love and prayers going out to you and your families!!

Condolence: My Sweet Rita, I was blessed to have meet you! I will never forget our special times filled with laughter and love.. I wish I would have met you earlier, but cherish the time we had together. Rest in peace beautiful soul! God bless your family...

Condolence: My father, Bill Mullen, was an art director, and Rita, a copywriter, was his mentor, who helped him enormously in the advertising business in the 1960s and 1970s. He respected her enormously--and that is saying a lot--considering who he was. I met her when I was a rebellious little girl and I remember very much wanting her to like me; wanting her to approve of me. That says a lot, because I didn't really care about what most anyone thought of me. I have a vivid memory of something she said to me when I was 7 or 8 years old. Her opinion was important to me. Rita had this commanding, almost regal, presence about her. Everything about her conveyed brilliance and excellence. I saw her, after more than 40 years in 2015, at my brother, Cassidy Mullen's memorial. I said to her, "You were a trailblazer. You were a pioneer." She said, "No, I wasn't." But she was. She was. Hugs to Shannon, Genevieve and all who knew and loved Rita.

Condolence: Warren Buffet, a fellow Nebraskan, said “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” I am honored to purchase a tribute tree in the name of Rita Grisman, my blessed aunt, friend, and mentor. Whatever type of tree is planted, I will always think of it as The Giving Tree. Rest in Peace, my dear Aunt Rita.