Rita Ann Sisko

Rita Ann [Kapraun] Sisko (96) passed away peacefully in January 2026 in her home in Woodridge, Illinois. Rita was born to Frank and Louise [Meyers] Kapraun on 5 Dec 1929 in Streator, Illinois.

She was the 4th of 8 children. Her siblings Richard, Margaret Ritter, Wallace, Elizabeth LoMonaco, and Agnes Gaspardo preceded her in death. She is survived by her siblings Mary (Errol) Peterson and James (Bev) Kapraun; her daughters Christine (Roger) Clause, Joan Cullen, Jean (Dan) Fagan and her Spanish daughter, Arantza (Rober Ambres) Garrido; her grandchildren Mackensey and Rileigh Fagan, Ian Cullen, Iñaki, and Iker Ambres; step-granddaughter Kelsey (Steven) Swiatnicki and step-great-grandchildren Viktor Ozlanski and Aubri Swiatnicki.

Rita grew up on the family farm outside Benson, Illinois, where she attended a one-room schoolhouse that is still standing. She attended Benson-Roanoke and Minonk-Dana-Rutland high schools, graduating in 1947. She received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois in 1951 and her Masters degree while raising 3 toddlers.

Rita married George Sisko (dec.) in 1951 and settled in River Grove in 1954. She was a very active member of St. Cyprian Catholic Church and Rhodes School PTA, a trustee of the River Grove Library board, a Camp Fire Girl leader, and softball coach. In 2004, she moved to Woodridge, Illinois, and became a member of Christ the Servant Catholic Church and Grandma Rita to all the neighbors and their children.

Rita’s long career as a Home Economics teacher spanned 50 years across numerous high schools including Lake View, Wells, Steinmetz and Flower Vocational in Chicago, East Leyden in Franklin Park, and Mother Guerin in River Grove. She taught at the college level at Dominican University and Triton College. She sewed most of the illustrations in the “Guide to Modern Clothing” textbook that was published in 1962 and used in schools across the United States.

Charity was her primary hobby. She donated her time and resources to so many organizations and individuals that it is impossible to name them. She strung endless rosaries, sewed endless dresses for an orphanage, cooked endless meals (and angel food cakes) for families in need and the list goes on. Even at the end, she donated her body to the Anatomical Gift Association of Illinois to support the education of medical students. Her cremains will be returned for burial in a few years.

A memorial mass will be held at 10 a.m. on 28 Feb 2026 at Christ the Servant Church, 8700 Havens Drive, Woodridge, IL. Burial will be private at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Rita’s memory to Catholic Charities, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, or Illinois Right to Life Committee.