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Rita Elaine Reilly
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Rita Reilly Obituary
Cedar Rapids
Rita Elaine Reilly, 89, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Cottage Grove following a long illness. A Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 30, 2026, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, with Rev. Aaron Junge officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, at Teahen Funeral Home, with a vigil service at 4:00 p.m. Friends may also visit at the church on Monday at 9:30 a.m. Burial: Holy Cross Cemetery in Keystone, Iowa.
Rita is survived by her children: Tamera Reilly, Michael (Bonnie) Reilly, Rose Anne (Kevin) Koerperich, Reilly (Dean) Wenning, John Reilly, Mary (Dave) Wiese and Raymond (Stephanie) Reilly; grandchildren Kevin, Ryan, Codee, Casey, Melanie, Dillon, Trisha, Gail, Calvin, Mason, Noah, Carson, Crystal and Aquilla; 15 great-grandchildren; and sister, Joan Phillips.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald; a son, James (Suzanne) Reilly; sisters, Barbara Painter, Fannie Davidson, and Mary Harmon; and brothers, William, Joseph, and Harry Holmes.
Rita was born on December 13, 1936, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Harry M. Holmes and Katherine (Funcke) Holmes. She was united in marriage to Ronald D. Reilly on April 18, 1959, at St. Matthew's Catholic Church. Rita dedicated many years of her life working as a bus driver for the Cedar Rapids Community Schools, retiring in 2003.
Rita will be lovingly remembered for her devotion to family. She enjoyed crocheting, playing board games, and especially spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Instead of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.teahenfuneralhome.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memorial Events
for Rita Reilly
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Teahen Funeral Home - Cedar Rapids3100 F Avenue NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405
Memories and Condolences
for Rita Reilly
Sponsored by Teahen Funeral Home - Cedar Rapids.
8 Entries
Bill & Gretchen Hitchcock
Yesterday
Our condolences and thoughts are with the entire family. May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.
Kelly Johnston O´Neill
Yesterday
Sending my condolences to all the family at this sad time. Rest in peace, Aunt Rita.xx
Nancy (Reilly) and Shawn Estrem
Yesterday
Praying God gives you peace and comfort in your loss!
Rob Rotzman
March 26, 2026
I’m so sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine how difficult this must be for you right now. Please know you’re in my thoughts, and I’m here for you if you need anything at all—whether that’s support, a listening ear, or just some space to take care of yourself.
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Michele Palmer
March 26, 2026
Sharing my condolences, may her memory be a blessing.
Christina Reilly Auman
March 26, 2026
So sorry for your loss. Praying for the family.
Lois Neil
March 25, 2026
I'll miss you Aunt Rita
My last time I saw her was when the Phillips girls took a sister trip to mackinaw island. She seamed to have a good time with mom
Lois neil
David Holmes
March 25, 2026
Remembering Rita with fondness. Very young when I had my first memory of her. It was her Wedding Day and she and Ron were at her folks home with a bunch of us kids outside. Tom Dziewanowski was convincing us kids to have what he called a shivaree. It amounted to running around the outside of the house yelling, making a lot of noise and banging stuff together. I asked him why we do this and he said that they will give us candy. Sure enough, Ron sent someone up to the small grocery store on first avenue and bought candy bars. We thought that was pretty neat. Need to remember that! Rita spent a fair amount of time visiting her parents and siblings at the parents house. Before they moved to Dubuque my last firm memory of Rita was visiting her parents with a new baby, Tammy. She always showed up at the Holmes Family picnics where Ron enjoyed trying to instigate a discussion with Mary Harmon where he just stirred the pot and sat back to enjoy some diverse strong opinions. My sincere condolences to the family with prayers and trust that Rita rest in her Father’s House with all that has been promised her.
David and Marilyn Holmes
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