Rita was born and raised in Bayonne, N.J., and currently resided in Amery, Wis., died in the early hours of Saturday, Aug. 19, at Regions Hospital, due to heart failure following surgery for major artery blockage on Thursday afternoon.

Rita will be remembered by her family and her friends for her loving, giving heart and her ability to be an amazing mother and loving wife. Her personal strength and trustworthy character enabled her to live life vivaciously, always thinking of others first.

Rita was multi-talented; she was an accomplished artist in music and painting, she was a talented actress and singer and performed in many plays during her years in school. She had a gift of attention to detail which was evident in her knitting, sewing, quilting, and crocheting, which also included her work in making prayer shawls with the "St. Joseph's Girls".

She was an excellent cook and baker and always had something delicious waiting on the table for you when you came to visit. She made the best spaghetti sauce, pierogies and golumpkis... family meant the world to Rita and she loved to take her grandchildren fishing, bowling, to the fair, to the movies, play cards with them and teach them new games. Her love for her family was insurmountable. She was also extremely proud of her Polish heritage and she fulfilled her lifetime dream of visiting Poland, her ancestral home.

"For me, she was my lifesaver, and undoubtedly gave me so much to treasure and cherish. While I know she is with us in Spirit, the loss of her presence is very profound and difficult to comprehend. We should find comfort in knowing that through her strong Faith and Belief that she is fulfilling a greater role in the Lord's Precious Hands!"

God Bless You, our Dearest Rita, may you rest in peace, knowing that you are always present in our hearts!

She is lovingly survived by her husband, Roger; four children (and their spouses), Lisa Kunde (Paul), Fred Sparling (Jaculin), Kara Thornton (Brian) and Susan Church (Jason); eight grandchildren, Savannah Church, Jordyn and Katelyn Kunde, Marin and Aidan Thornton, Bennitt, Connor and Aaron Sparling; siblings, Jerry Nowicki (Florence), Donald Nowicki (Marcia) and Dorothy DeMoya-Baruch (Bob); and numerous nieces, nephews, and special friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Amelia Nowicki.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 30 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Amery, Wis., with a Viewing at 10 a.m. and Mass at 11 a.m. with Father Gene Murphy officiating. A luncheon will follow at the church. A visitation will be conducted at Williamson-White Funeral Home, in Amery, on Tuesday evening Aug. 29, from 4-7 p.m. A private family interment will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family to be donated to one of Rita's favorite charities.