Rita Houtsinger

Rita Kathleen Houtsinger, 80, of St. Charles, Illinois passed away Tuesday, July 8, 2025. She was born June 11, 1945, in Chicago, Illinois to Bernard and Lucille (Castre) Woods.

She is survived by her children Chrisi (Tony) Anaya-Pezzute, Mari LaCasse, and Kathleen (David) Duncan; grandchildren Scott (Kristy) Anaya, Rachel (Tyler Fangmann) LaCasse, Jeremy (Jenny) Anaya, Eric Anaya, Sara Anaya, Megan Duncan, and Mary Duncan; and great-grandchildren Elsie Fangmann, Toby Anaya, Cole Fangmann, and Jo Fangmann. Close to her are her grandkids at heart Jesse (Lindsay) Anaya and their children, Jacob and Austin, as well as Jamie Duncan and her boys, Jim and JD. She also leaves behind Marlene Robbs, her sister at heart. In addition to her parents and siblings, she is preceded in death by her son, Lenny Houtsinger.

She was a quiet, steady presence in the lives of many - a woman who never sought the spotlight, but whose light shone brightly in every life she touched.

Rita dedicated her life to her family. Her love was the kind that showed up daily - in the small things, the quiet moments, and the lasting traditions she passed down. She nurtured not only people, but the earth itself with her love of gardening. Her space was filled with flowers and vegetables, and it's a love she passed down to her children and grandchildren. Her passion for "playing in the dirt" will be a part of her legacy that will bloom for generations.

She had a gift for turning the ordinary into something special - offering jars of pickles, sticks of pepperoni, $2 bills, and other small tokens that felt like treasures not because of their value, but simply because they came from her. Her gifts were never just about the item itself, but about the care and thought she put into giving her loved ones their favorite treats or something that would make them smile.

The songs of Rita's life will linger in our ears and hearts - from "You Are My Sunshine" sung to all her kids to Merle Haggard coming from her radio to a line or two she knew from what seemed like every old military song there ever was, she'll always be remembered for having some little tune to share.

Then there were the inside jokes that turned into family legends-like her "boyfriend" Snake, who we all came to know by name, even if he only existed in her imagination and her endless storytelling. She could keep a joke alive for years, and somehow it only got funnier with time. She had a gift for making moments lighter. Whether she was sarcastically scolding the quiet ones for being "too loud," lovingly roasting someone who was dolled up for an event for being "ugly", or shouting "Cowabunga!" whenever a grandkid did something they thought was cool-she had this rare ability to take the ordinary and flip it into something unforgettably funny. And she was never above being the butt of the joke. If she misheard something, or tripped over her own feet, she'd beat everyone else to the punchline, delivering it with the comic timing of a seasoned pro.

She was the keeper of family stories, the one who remembered who came before and how they lived, laughed, and loved. Through her, our roots grew deeper and stronger. She was a living connection to our history - a storyteller, a memory-holder, and the heart of our gatherings.

To her loved ones, she was fiercely loyal. Whether helping in times of need or simply being a calm, supportive presence, Rita gave freely of herself in the most genuine way. She could always be counted on to be your unfaltering safe place in times of happiness, struggle, and everything in between.

Though her life was quiet, her impact was immeasurable. She leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, resilience, and care that will live on in every flower planted, every family story retold, every long-lived inside joke, and every song that sparks a memory in someone who loved her.

A small celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, August 2nd, 2025, at a place yet to be determined.