Rita Elizabeth Wessel

Rita Elizabeth Wessel 76, the daughter of Joseph and Mary Wessel, passed on to be with her faithful God on November 18, 2024, at the Apostolic Christian Home in Sabetha, Kansas. (My name is spelled with a T and is pronounced with a T. Thank you.)

Rita was born in Colby, Kansas and grew up on the family farm attending Angelus Consolidated Elementary School. She then attended Marian Catholic Girls High School in Hays, Kansas graduating in 1966. Fulfilling her dream of working in the big city, she lived with her older sister Helen’s family in Kansas City and worked as a file clerk for two years. Rita then returned to the family farm and provided care for her aging parents. During that time, she attended night school at Colby College and earned an associates degree. Later she returned to Hays and worked in restaurants, laundry, and as a dietary aid at Good Samaritan Care Home for 27 years. After retiring she became a Foster Grandparent for a Headstart Preschool in Hays. She loved being called Gramma Rita by the little ones. When living alone became too difficult she accepted an invitation from her niece Kim in Sabetha to come there to live. She was cared for by many loving people at Vintage Park in Hiawatha, The Apostolic Christian Home in Sabetha and St. Croix Hospice.

Rita’s hobbies were baking, knitting, sewing and crafting and she loved sharing all of her gifts with family and friends.

Rita is survived by her sister, Sister Bernadine Wessel, ASC of Wichita, KS; three sisters-in-law, Betty Schaffer of Garden City, KS, Kathy Wessel of Scott City, KS, and Virginia Wessel of Grainfield, KS; one brother-in-law Raymond Seymour of Brighton, Colorado, and many nieces and nephews. Those preceding her in death were her parents, eight brothers, Ambrose, Francis, Leroy, Leo, Robert, Charles, Dave, and Thomas Wessel and two sisters Mary Ann Seymour and Helen Nuessen.

Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m., with a Rosary at 10:00 a.m. and Memorial Mass at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 7, 2024, at St. Paul Catholic Church, Angelus with interment in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Adorers of the Blood of Christ Convent, Wichita, KS and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit baalmannmortuary.com