Obituary: Rhonda Joann Feil Haworth

Rhonda Joann Feil Haworth was born June 17, 1956 in San Fernando to Arlyss (Arly) and Janice (Jan) Schaffer Feil. She passed into heaven on Sept. 26, 2022. She will be most remembered for her warmth, encouraging spirit, creativity and love for young children.

Soon after Rhonda's birth in 1956, her family moved to Bakersfield for two years before they ultimately settled in Shafter. There the family grew to include Rodney and Ryan. Rhonda attended local schools, graduating from Shafter High School in 1974.

Rhonda accepted Christ as her personal Savior as a young girl in the Shafter Mennonite Brethren Church and demonstrated her faith and her love for the Lord throughout her life. She was active in church ministries including playing the piano and working with young children.

After high school, her love of children led her to Bakersfield College and a degree in child development, and then onto a lifetime of working with young children. Over the years she was a nanny, a teacher, a mentor and a director at preschools and daycare centers. Some of her more memorable adventures included working as a nanny in Austria for two years and then for Burt Bacharach and Carol Bayer Sager in the Los Angeles area. She continued to work with young children in the Shafter and Bakersfield area for much of her life and all of her students, as well as their parents and fellow teachers, remember her with great fondness.

Rhonda gave birth to her son, Logan, in 1989 and raised him as a single mother for the first several years of his life. This was an especially difficult journey at times, but led to some of Rhonda's greatest blessings. In 1997, she married Greg Haworth and this new family of three settled in Shafter. She was always involved with Logan's activities, as well as church and community functions.

In 2013 Greg and Rhonda moved to Texas to be near Logan, his wife, Katrina, and their children, Adyson and Thor. Rhonda loved being a Nana so much so that she would inevitably become the honorary Nana of any child to join her circle, no matter their relation.

It would be an injustice to merely record the facts of her life. Rhonda was a true delight to be around. She was selfless – she constantly put the needs of others above her own and rarely complained. She was real - she was able to see and acknowledge the deepest weaknesses of other people without passing judgment. She had the ability to come alongside people from all walks of life and offer true encouragement. She loved flowers, being creative and spending time with her family. She loved painting children's faces, French-braiding hair and doing crafts with her nieces and grandchildren. She truly had a gift for enriching the lives of those around her, especially young children.

Rhonda will truly be missed by many, but her light will still shine on in the lives of those she touched and loved.

Rhonda was predeceased by her mother, Jan, in 2014 and her brother, Ryan, who passed away March 26 of this year. She is survived by her husband, Greg, her son, Logan, and his wife, Katrina, as well as her beloved grandchildren Adyson and Thor. She also is survived by her father, Arly; her brother, Rod, and his wife, Susan; her sister-in-law, Linden; her niece, Carley; and her nephews Bryan, Andrew and Brandon. In addition, she is survived by many members of Greg's family who loved her as their own, including Lisa and Jeff Lindgren (children Brian, Jason & Katy), Susan and Mike Mulligan (children Mackenzie, Ollie, Kaley, Kristina, Phillip, Jacob and Fernando), and Anne and Ralph Fruguglietti (children J.P., Anthony, Katina and Theresa).

A Celebration of Rhonda's Life will be held on Nov. 12, at noon, at the Mulligan home, 17647 Wasco Ave., Shafter. Luncheon to follow.

Rhonda loved flowers and the giving of flowers. The family asks that you bring flowers to the Celebration and the flowers will then be delivered to Carrington Assisted Living and Golden Living Center afterward.

The family would greatly appreciate hearing from all who knew her. Please go online to petersfuneralhomes.com to share your memories of Rhonda.