Rita is preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Jack whom she married on October 27, 1951. She is survived by her seven children: Jack (Jennie), Kevin (Sheri), Joe (Yolanda), Kyle (Anne Marie), Jeff (Denise), Kerry (Zalena), and Kathleen Kersting-Leonard, 22 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Rita was born October 17, 1930, in Kansas City, MO. She was the fourth child of Will and Cecilia Olson. Rita is preceded in death by her sisters, Mary Katherine (McDermott), Marge (Moore), and Theresa (Martel), and is survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Rita was a straight A student in grade school, high school, and college where she majored in music. She attended Avila High School and Avila College in Kansas City, MO. From a young age, she was a gifted musician often playing organ and piano in church in Kansas City and for many years at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church in Crestwood, MO, and for nearly 40 years at St. Louis the King Church in Glendale, AZ.
Music was a significant part of Rita’s life. She taught piano lessons to hundreds of students in MO and AZ. She was an accompanist for her church choirs and along with her husband, Jack, performed in many musical reviews and plays. For several years, Rita taught music at St. Jerome Catholic School in Glendale and later for 15 years taught special education at Alhambra High School.
Rita thoroughly enjoyed a trip to the casino, or a day spent at a winery with family and friends. A favorite pastime was playing bridge with her sisters. Rita was an avid fan of both professional and amateur sports. She loved cheering on her favorite teams and was always the biggest supporter of her husband, children, and grandchildren on and off the field, pitch, court, or pool.
She would confess to you that her greatest accomplishment was being a wife and mother. And, indeed, Rita was a loving wife and a kind, gentle, sweet, and proud mother, and grandmother. She often said in later years what a full, happy, and healthy life she had led and how grateful to God she was for His abundant blessings. “I do not know what I would do without my faith. I do not know how people manage without it. God has been very good to me and given me such a wonderful family.”
A Rosary Service will start at 9:30am at Saint Simon and Jude Cathedral Parish, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 am on Friday, January 21, 2022.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ChapeloftheChimesMortuary.com for the KERSTING family.
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