Rita Ward

1936 - 2019

JERSEYVILLE – Rita Annette Ward, 83, died at 2:48 a.m., Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, surrounded by the love of her family.

She was born on Sept. 6, 1936 in Michael, Illinois, to the late Joseph Peter and Rose Theresa (Hirsch) Herkert and grew up along with her siblings in Calhoun County, graduating with the class of 1954 from Calhoun High School.

She married Norman Dale Ward on April 28, 1956 at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Jerseyville, Illinois. Together they shared in the joys of raising their three children and 45 years of marriage prior to his death on Oct. 14, 1995.

In her younger years, Rita was employed as a telephone operator for General Telephone Company and later worked for a period of time at Jersey State Bank in Jerseyville. In addition, she worked alongside her husband as co-owner of Ward's Stump Removal. Rita was strong in her faith and a member of the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Jerseyville. She enjoyed socializing with her friends as a fellow "Thursday Girl" at Family Hair Center in Jerseyville and playing bingo at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Her primary focus, however, was providing a loving and nurturing home for her family. Rita was a "second mom" to many of her childrens friends growing up. She relished in the time spent with her children and grandchildren; particularly enjoyed their family vacations to Norfolk Lake.

Over the past several years, as Alzheimer's Disease robbed Rita of her ability to share in the memories of her family and times past, her children remained by her side, extending the same loving and nurturing spirit that she had instilled in them back to her, ten-fold. It is through their faith that they are comforted in knowing that she is, once again, graced with the knowledge of the love they all shared with one another.

Surviving are a daughter and son in-law, Denise and Steve Hunter; two sons and a daughter in-law, Kevin Ward and Dawn Smith, and Brian and Colleen Ward, all of Jerseyville; six grandchildren, Robert Hunter, and his fiancé Sarah Purvis, of St. Peters, Missouri; Sarah Hunter, and her fiance, David Zimmerman, of Grafton, Illinois; Rachel and David Groves of Godfrey, Illinois; Jake Ward, and his companion, Megan McDonald, of Jerseyville; Lauren and Kendall Kanallakan of Grafton and Trevor Ward of Carbondale, Illinois; six great-grandchildren, Chase, Catherine, Emma, Billy, Zoey, Lyla and two more on the way; a sister, Joan Klunk of Michael; four brothers, Joe Herkert and Cathy of Gillespie, Illinois; Jim and Linda Herkert of Kampsville, Illinois; Paul T. "Snow" and Kathy Herkert of Hardin, Illinois, and Steve Herkert and Vanessa of Jerseyville; a brother in-law, Nick Siemer of Batchtown, Illinois; two sister in-laws, Virginia Ward of Jerseyville and Pat Ward of Kingston Mines, Illinois; as well as her best friend of 64 years, Esther Foiles of Jerseyville.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter in-law, Kathi Ward; a brother, Daniel Herkert; a sister, Carolyn Siemer; a brother in-law, Lawrence Klunk; her in-laws, Jonas Ward and Agnes and Carl Stathem; brothers and sisters in-law, Charlie and Betty Ward, Don and Kate Ward, David Ward, Joyce Ward, Hollis and Margie Ward, Paul Ward and Robert Ward.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 1 at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.

Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019 at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Jerseyville with Father Martin Smith officiating.

Burial will follow at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville.

In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials may be given to the Riverbend Humane Society or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, in care of the funeral home.