Obituary for Rita Jean Kelly
Rita Jean Kelly (nee Redl) passed away peacefully at Wakaw Lodge, SK on Monday, February 1, 2021 at 84 years of age. She was daughter, sister, wife, grandmother and great grandmother. Rita was a vibrant, gifted, devout Catholic, always finding joy in everything. She loved singing, gardening, flowers, dancing, curling, dressing elegant, games, hot holidays, the Roughriders, costumes, Wakaw Lake and surprising people!
Rita grew up in Wakaw and met John Kelly at Wakaw Lake at 18, married and had a healthy family – 6 children by 29 years of age. At times she and sisters-in-law entertained 18-20 children through the summer. Masterful! Life in Pilger was prosperous with their general store, Kelly’s Shop Rite. Over 30 years of community service, including mayor’s wife - truly a proud feat! Rita founded and ran a 4-H club for a generous 11 years. Home life thrived as her children “Learned To Do By Doing”. A house-full of leaders was born. She worked at the store after children moved on, and then joined John in teaching Pastoral Care. They left Pilger when Rita designed her dream home at the lake. For 15 years the joy of nature, grandchildren and vibrant lasting friendships was a fulfilling retirement for them both. In 2014 they moved to a high rise in Saskatoon, where Rita “wore a dress everyday”!
Sadly, John passed Dec. 2019 and life alone was challenging. Family always embraced Rita and she settled in Wakaw Lodge with wonderful care to the end. She was proud her life had come full circle back to her birthplace.
Rita and John had 63 wonderful years of marriage and children: Karen Gamble, Colleen Murphy (Bill), Maureen Loeffelholz (Dallas), Audrey Kelly, Patrick Kelly (Karen), and Mary Ellen Brockman (Edward). They have 19 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren!
Rita is survived by her sister Roma Lipka, Rhonda Gough (Brent) and Roberta Neville (Adrian), Brother Dave Redl, sisters-in-law Sheila Engele, Norma Redl, Judy Redl, and brother-in-law John LeSarge. She is predeceased by her parents, John and Angeline Redl, brothers Donald, Denis and Dale, grandchild Avery Wilkins, sister-in-law Eileen LeSarge and brothers-in-law Murray Engele and Stan Lipka. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the St. Theresa Roman Catholic Church in Wakaw on Saturday, August 28 at 10:30 am with Rev. Fr. Matthew Nguyen as Celebrant. Rita will be buried beside John at the St. Theresa Roman Catholic Cemetery. Donations in memory of Rita may be directed to Wakaw Lakeview Pioneer Lodge, Wakaw, Sask. at lakeviewpioneerlodge.ca/donations. Condolences may be left at kushnerykfuneralservice.com.
Mom and Dad both loved ‘O Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling … And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!”
Rita grew up in Wakaw and met John Kelly at Wakaw Lake at 18, married and had a healthy family – 6 children by 29 years of age. At times she and sisters-in-law entertained 18-20 children through the summer. Masterful! Life in Pilger was prosperous with their general store, Kelly’s Shop Rite. Over 30 years of community service, including mayor’s wife - truly a proud feat! Rita founded and ran a 4-H club for a generous 11 years. Home life thrived as her children “Learned To Do By Doing”. A house-full of leaders was born. She worked at the store after children moved on, and then joined John in teaching Pastoral Care. They left Pilger when Rita designed her dream home at the lake. For 15 years the joy of nature, grandchildren and vibrant lasting friendships was a fulfilling retirement for them both. In 2014 they moved to a high rise in Saskatoon, where Rita “wore a dress everyday”!
Sadly, John passed Dec. 2019 and life alone was challenging. Family always embraced Rita and she settled in Wakaw Lodge with wonderful care to the end. She was proud her life had come full circle back to her birthplace.
Rita and John had 63 wonderful years of marriage and children: Karen Gamble, Colleen Murphy (Bill), Maureen Loeffelholz (Dallas), Audrey Kelly, Patrick Kelly (Karen), and Mary Ellen Brockman (Edward). They have 19 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren!
Rita is survived by her sister Roma Lipka, Rhonda Gough (Brent) and Roberta Neville (Adrian), Brother Dave Redl, sisters-in-law Sheila Engele, Norma Redl, Judy Redl, and brother-in-law John LeSarge. She is predeceased by her parents, John and Angeline Redl, brothers Donald, Denis and Dale, grandchild Avery Wilkins, sister-in-law Eileen LeSarge and brothers-in-law Murray Engele and Stan Lipka. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the St. Theresa Roman Catholic Church in Wakaw on Saturday, August 28 at 10:30 am with Rev. Fr. Matthew Nguyen as Celebrant. Rita will be buried beside John at the St. Theresa Roman Catholic Cemetery. Donations in memory of Rita may be directed to Wakaw Lakeview Pioneer Lodge, Wakaw, Sask. at lakeviewpioneerlodge.ca/donations. Condolences may be left at kushnerykfuneralservice.com.
Mom and Dad both loved ‘O Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling … And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!”