Rita Marie (Fitzgerald) Wellens

Rita M Wellens (Fitzgerald) On September 20, 2015, just 4 days shy of 101 years, Rita M Wellens left a well lived life on earth to find eternal peace with God. Our large family has been graced with many opportunities to share, care and love with Mom-Grandma-GG up to the moment of her death. We will be forever grateful for her many lessons, including becoming well versed in bedtime prayer in recent years. The daughter of the late John and Cecelia (Kane) Fitzgerald was born September 24, 1914 in Morrison, WI. She graduated from Wrightstown High School and received her teaching certificate from Outagamie Rural Normal in 1932 (at the age of 17). From there she embarked on a lifelong devotion to family, education, music and faith. Rita met Christian Wellens at The Evergreen in Morrison and knew immediately that he would be the love of her life. While he served in the Pacific during WWII they corresponded by mail and telegram and were married on September 15, 1945 at St Francis Xavier Cathedral upon his return. Their early years were spent in Madison where Chris studied agriculture at the University and they began their family. They always wanted a large family, and they accomplished that having 9 children! They returned to the family farm in Rockland where the children learned how to work hard, to play hard and to know their faith. Rita and Chris made many sacrifices to assure these opportunities. Rita had a long and memorable teaching career. She began with country schools in Lark and Rockland, teaching 8 grades at once. She was very successful and the superintendent would call on her for the most challenging situations. She spent much of her career at St Francis School in DePere and continued to have regular visits from former students. Wherever Rita went there seemed to be someone who remembered her because she taught them and they would relate important lessons learned from her. Rita learned to play the piano from the nuns in Morrison. She used that gift throughout her life, giving lessons, playing at church, and for nursing homes and private gatherings. She was well known for “being at the keys” with the Irish Tenor – Bill Clancy. When she moved to the Bellevue Retirement Community she played for them, and accompanied children playing instruments even though her vision and hearing were severely impaired – until her hands could no longer keep up. In her very last days at Unity, she still appreciated hearing her granddaughters, Natalie and Shana, playing piano – and yes she could hear it! The foundation of this well lived life was her faith in God. Rita and Chris visited many shrines, participated in Cursillo and Rita made multiple pilgrimages to Grailville in Ohio. She kept many of the friendships created there. Rita and Chris were long time, active members of St Francis Xavier in DePere as well as worshipping with and developing close relationships with the Norbertines at the Abby. In her later years she attended St John the Evangelist Church in Green Bay with family and became a friend to many there. As her health declined and she needed increasing assistance from her family, we came to know even more how deep her faith was as she discussed dying and what her hopes would be for her family’s futures. Survivors include: Children - Carolyn (Glen) Bodwin, John (Helen) Wellens, Lydwine (Bill) Joy, Steve (Ruth) Wellens, Eugene Wellens, Christine Wellens, Mike Wellens and Jane Boex; Grandchildren – Lisa (Jeff Mueller) Bodwin, Sara (Steve) Johnson, Andy Wellens, Alyssa (Joe) Harris, Shana Wellens, Michael Wellens, Danielle Boex, Greg Boex and Natalie Wellens; Great-grandchildren – London Johnson, Lydia and Maxwell Harris; Brother-in-law Don (Carol) Wellens; nieces, nephews and other family. In addition to her husband, Christian, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Mary Joan Wellens, sisters Mary Fitzgerald and Dorothy (Sheridan) Dewane and her brother Joseph Fitzgerald. Family and friends may visit at Cotter Funeral Home, 860 N. Webster Avenue, De Pere, on Wednesday, September 23rd from 4:00-8:00 p.m. with prayer service at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will continue on Thursday, September 24th at St. John the Evangelist Church from 10:00 a.m. until time of Mass. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. at the church with Father Joseph Dorner officiating. Burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery in De Pere. Online condolences may be expressed at www.cotterfuneralhome.com. Our family would like to thank the staffs of Bellevue Retirement Home and Unity Hospice for their wonderful care. We thank Dr. Amy James for her compassion and friendship to all of us. And, we thank the many faithful friends and clergy who visited Rita.

Reception:
The Swan Club
875 Heritage Rd.
De Pere, WI 54115