Rita F Stern

Rita F. (Stokes) Stern, 82 of La Crosse, passed away on Thursday, May 9, 2013 at the Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse. She was born in La Crosse on July 8, 1930 to John and Maude (Thomas) Stokes. Rita was a 1948 Graduate of Aquinas High School and on June 2, 1951 she married Willard Mike Stern at Holy Cross Catholic Church in La Crosse. Rita and her husband Mike had owned and operated a motor repair shop in Sparta, WI, for many years. Rita was preceded in death by her husband Mike in 1994, her parents, one brother John, her father and mother in law and other members of her husbands family. She is survived by one sister Marjorie Bushek of La Crosse and by several nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the staff at Shelby Terrace and Bethany St. Joseph Care Center for their wonderful care and compassion during Ritas stay.

A Mass Of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am on Monday, May 13, 2013 in the Marian Chapel at the Cathedral of St. Joseph The Workman. Rev. Monsignor Charles Stoetzel will officiate. Burial will be in the Mormon Coulee Memorial Park. Friends may call on the family Monday morning at the church from 9:30 am until the time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred and will be used in Ritas memory.