Rita Mae Ludwig

1930 - 2024

Rita Mae Ludwig
Born: January 3, 1930 in Lemont, IL
Died: November 20, 2024 in New Lenox, IL
Rita Mae Ludwig (nee Zolecki), devoted wife, mother, grandmother, aunt & friend died peacefully on November 20th, 2024, at age 94.
Rita is survived by her two sons Bryan & Nowell; her daughter in-laws, Susan Ludwig and Wendie Ludwig and her grandchildren, Nicholas Ludwig, Jack Lindsay, Nathan Ludwig, Abigayle Ludwig and nieces and nephews, Joan (Joe) Witt, Barbara (Joe) Bannon, Dan (Bonnie) Zolecki, Larry (Loell) Zolecki, Greg (Linda) Zolecki and Rhonda (Leon) Staggs.
Rita was preceded in death by her dear beloved husband E. Marvin Ludwig. She was also preceded in death by her parents Nicholas & Helen Zolecki and her siblings Lenoard Zolecki (Lucile) and Raymond Zolecki (Rita). Her sisters-in-law Fern (Norman) Epler and Donna (Gene) Chmielewski also preceded her in death.
Rita was born in Lemont, IL on January 3, 1930, at her home on 6 Custer Street, the youngest of three children. Rita was a life-long parishioner at SS Cyril & Methodius Church, and was one of the first babies baptized into the newly constructed magnificent church. Rita attended grade school at SS Cyril's and received a full scholarship to attend St. Francis Academy High School in Joliet, IL.
After high school, Rita worked for General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC) in Joliet, IL within their credit collections department. Rita also provided caregiving to her mother during a long battle with cancer, prior to her death in 1956. After a lengthy courtship, she married her husband Marvin in July 1959. They lived in Rita's family home and were ready to start a family, welcoming a son, Bryan Thomas in 1960 and another son, Nowell Marvin in 1962.
Family was very important to Rita and she was a very close friends with her sisters-in-law Lucille and Rita. Holiday celebrations were always enjoyed with the Zolecki & Ludwig families and Aunt Rita was deeply respected by each of her nieces and nephews.
Rita cherished being a devoted wife to Marvin and a loving mother to Bryan and Nowell. Rita often said, some of her happiest times in life, were those of being a mother and housewife when the boys were younger.
Marvin & Rita built their current home in 1974, approximately one-half mile from her birthplace. Rita enjoyed fond memories as a child of playing in the orchards of the homesite. Both Marvin & Rita took great pride in the family residence and neither had a desire to live anywhere else. Neighbors were important friends to each of them. Rita was an excellent cook, homemaker and managed all her personal finances while continuing to live in the family home, for almost twenty years after Marvin died.
Rita prided herself with an impeccable fashion sense and her love for "dressing up" including makeup and heels whenever she left the house. Rita enjoyed wearing beautiful outfits merely to go grocery shopping at Totura's, Ordman's or Jewel. Black & White were favorite color choices of her designer clothing.
Rita was a devote catholic, attending church regularly at SS Cyril & Methodius and a lifelong member of their Altar & Rosary Society. Rita was firm in her religious beliefs attending Sunday 11:30 AM mass for many years and could be seen in a familiar pew near the front of the church.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 24, 2024, from 4 - 7 pm at Markiewicz Funeral Home, P.C. 108 Illinois Street, Lemont, IL. Funeral Services Monday, November 25, 2024, 9:30 a.m. from the funeral home to SS. Cyril & Methodius Church for Mass at 10 a.m. Interment Bethany Lutheran Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethany Lutheran Church general fund, 500 Lemont Street, Lemont, IL 60439