Rita Mary (Hammes) Weber

Rita Mary (Hammes) Weber, 88, of St. Joseph Ridge, died at her home on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Rita was born in La Crosse on February 12, 1926, to August and Caroline (Schumacher) Hammes and was a 1943 graduate of Aquinas High School. She married Donald P. Weber on July 16, 1946, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on St. Joseph Ridge. She and Don farmed on Middle Ridge for many years before moving to St. Joseph. Rita then worked at the Villa St. Joseph for 19 years before retiring. Don preceded her in death on March 31, 1995.

Her Catholic faith and her family were of utmost importance to Rita. She was very active in her church life at St. Joseph’s parish for many years. She lived a holy life and died peacefully at home with her family.

Rita is survived by her children, Mary Jo (Loren) Dunnum of St. Joseph Ridge, Donald J. (Roxanne) Weber of La Crosse, Stephen T. (Deborah) Weber of Bangor, Wis., Carol (John) Roesler of Chaseburg, and James P. (Debra) Weber of La Crosse; fifteen grandchildren and nineteen great grandchildren; one sister, Mary Quinn of Sparta, Wis.; and many nieces and nephews and their families. In addition to her husband, Don, she was preceded in death by ten brothers, Sylvester, Bernard, August Jr., Bishop George Hammes, Leo, Alphonse, Albert, Herbert, Norbert and Arthur; and four sisters, Margaret, Loretta, Barbara and Caroline.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held, at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 3rd, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on St. Joseph Ridge. Msgr. Michael Gorman will serve as celebrant and Msgr. Robert Hundt, Msgr. Francis Abua Quansa, and Fr. Timothy Welles will concelebrate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Family and friends may call at the church on Tuesday from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m., where a rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m., and again on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Memorials may be directed to St. Joseph’s parish, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Viterbo University School of Nursing, and the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN).