Carol J. Rittmanic

Carol Jeannine Rittmanic, 93, of Fort Wayne, Indiana passed away on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at Lutheran Life Village Memory Care after a long illness. Carol was born on July 29, 1930, on a farm outside Kankakee, Illinois. She was a daughter of the late Clarence A. Wolven and Lucille G. Yohnka Wolven, and the eldest of seven children. She grew up in Bradley, Illinois, where she met her husband, Paul, when they were 16 years old. They were married seven years later on August 22, 1953, and remained married for more than 70 years. Carol attended Eastern Illinois University and graduated in 1953 with a degree in Art Education. She then taught art in schools in Kewanee, Illinois before moving to Washington D.C., Oklahoma, and then settling in Dixon, Illinois, where she became certified to teach elementary school and raised her family. She taught fourth grade for many years at Washington Elementary School, and after retirement, lived in Arizona until moving to Fort Wayne. Carol was a loving wife, mother, sister, and grandmother, and will be remembered for her fierce devotion to her entire family, her sense of humor, feisty spirit, dedication to teaching, love of Westerns, bridge, music, crossword puzzles, travel, and her exhaustive genealogy research spanning decades. Surviving family include her husband, Paul; daughters, Lynne (Tom) Ignolia and Paula (Eric) Purdy; son, Steven (Marci) Rittmanic; three grandsons, two granddaughters, one great-grandson, and two great-granddaughters. She is also survived by three sisters, Gerry, Kathryn, and Marsha; one brother, Kenneth; and many nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, she was preceded in passing by two brothers, Neil and Charles. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 am on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 10700 Aboite Center Road, Fort Wayne with a gathering of family and friends one hour prior. A graveside service will be followed by a celebration of her life and will take place in Kankakee, Illinois, where she will be laid to rest. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Salvation Army. Greenlawn Funeral Home, Fort Wayne is caring for arrangements. Condolences and memories of Carol may be left online at www.greenlawnmpfh.com