Rita’ M Hanewinkel
All who knew her will cherish their memories of RITA MARY HANEWINKEL who passed from this life on Saturday, 9 November, 2024, after a brief illness.
Born at home on May 27, 1937, Rita was the eleventh child of the fifteen children of Katherine (nee Julius) and William Hanewinkel Sr. of Affton, Missouri.
Seven Holy Founders school and Notre Dame High School prepared Rita for acceptance into the community of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph, Owensboro, Ky., where she professed as Sr. John Mary O.S.U. She earned her B.A. degree from Brescia College while teaching primary grades in Kentucky Catholic schools. Later she would earn her Master of Science in Education degree from Indiana University.
In 1968, Rita transitioned from convent life but continued teaching in Catholic schools in Louisville Kentucky and Jeffersonville Indiana until her retirement. Her many students will remember her as a creative and loving teacher. She was an “influencer” before the era of the internet. She brought out the best in her students encouraging them to find joy in learning and fulfillment in their lives. Rita was very proud of the accomplishments her former students obtained in their adult life and remained in contact with many of them. Rita was a member of Sacred Heart and St. Augustine Catholic Churches in Jeffersonville, Indiana.
Together with her companion, Mary Jo Wathen, they brought hospitality, kindness, and comfort to friends and family alike. After Mary Jo’s passing in 2021, Rita returned to her roots in St. Louis to be near her family which included her brothers Jack, Wally and Jerry Hanewinkel; her sisters Kay Schwartz, Joan Schwartz, Helen Hiegel. Her 98 nieces/nephews and many greats. Her niece, Lucy Marty, was instrumental in seeing to Rita’s care and well being throughout her senior years.
Let us remember Rita for her laughs, her quirks, the happy times together, for her acceptance of others and the compassion she showed to those in need, for the love she shared with friends and family, for her strength in adversity and for her faith in God and mankind.
I’m so glad she was able to come home to family in the last “Golden” yrs of her wonderful and full life! Love you Aunt Rita!
Rita will forever be in the hearts of all those lucky enough to know and love her. On behalf of the Posey Family in Kentucky and Texas, we would like to express our appreciation for all the years and good times spent with both Rita and Mary Jo.
I absolutely adored “aunt” Rita and miss her dearly. What an amazing woman and teacher. She and aunt Mary Jo were the best!
Bear with me as I am a bit emotional about my Aunt Rita’s passing. She was my favorite aunt. She was born right ahead of my dad Wally so her, my dad and uncle Dave were particularly close. We would talk every year around the holidays for hours. I miss her. I miss her laugh and her stories about them as kids, especially her stories about my dad. I missed hearing her voice on my birthday this year. I was sad when Mary Jo passed and I know Aunt Rita missed her dearly. I’ve heard so many wonderful stories about her as a teacher and how her students still love her and keep up with her. I believe it. She was just that special. I miss you Aunt Rita. Love you…
Aunt Rita will forever be in my memory I was about 6 or 7 she gave me a doll that wore her sister habit that she wore at the time that she gave me the doll. Believe me when I tell you that doll has traveled every where I have been. the doll is beautiful and she even still has the small black rosary that she had attached to her.. She will always have that smile and the soft tone in her voice. I will miss all the telephone calls we had together. She always seem to remember my grandkids names and always ask about them. She and Mary-Jo always were so cheerful and cracking jokes. Aunt Rita will be missed alot,but she is with her family and best friends in Heaven.