Obituary of Rhonda W. Rapps

Warren – Rhonda W. Rapps, Psy.D. 71, a resident and business owner in Warren Township, died on Wednesday, April 10 at The Chelsea at Warren assisted living center. Dr. Rapps was born in Goose Creek, Texas and grew up in Bartlesville and Tulsa, OK.

Dr. Rapps attended the University of Arkansas, receiving a BA in 1969. She was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority and was recognized with both the Margaret Kirby Hantz Award and an award from the Association of Woman Students for outstanding academic achievement. In 1973, she received a MA and Certification in School Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Dr. Rapps completed her graduate studies at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in 1975, publishing her dissertation "Measures of Behavior and Attitude as Early Indicators of Reading Potential."

Until her retirement in 2015, Dr. Rapps was the Chief Executive Officer and Clinical Director of the Human Potential Institute in Warren. In her forty years of both school and clinical psychology, Dr. Rapps developed a Child Study Team approach to assist educationally challenged children in reaching their maximum potential. She received many awards and certificates for her methods of helping those with special needs.

Rhonda was married to her devoted husband of forty three years, Dr. Paul E. Rapps. She is survived by Paul, daughter Jennifer, and son-in-law John Cifelli of Readington, NJ. She was blessed with two grandchildren, Easton Cifelli, 4, and Michael Cifelli, 11 months. When not working in her private practice, Rhonda loved music and sports, as she was a season ticket holder for both the New York Jets and Rutgers University football teams. She continued to follow the University of Arkansas Razorbacks football team as well.

Before her death, Rhonda was honored and proud to have been elected as the Secretary of the Warren Township Rescue Squad.

Funeral services will be at The Higgins Home for Funerals, Watchung, NJ on Thursday, April 18, 2019, at 10:00 AM, followed by interment at the Hebrew Cemetery in South Plainfield, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Warren Township Rescue Squad (www.warrenrescue.org)