Rita Cadagin Norris

Rita was born in Springfield on December 26, 1936, seventh of the nine children of Frank A. “Mose” and Gertrude M. (O’Leary) Cadagin.

Rita grew up in the 900 block of S 15th Street. She and her siblings walked and biked everywhere. She and two siblings were once caught taking a shortcut to school by crawling under a stopped train. They gave false names, but the railroad worker guessed they went to Cathedral Grade School and told the principal. Her parents were not pleased. Rita was a proud 1954 graduate of Sacred Heart Academy. While there, she made the unusual decision to take two years of typing. It turned out that the student typists typed the progress report cards that were sent home to parents. Rita always managed to pocket a few extra grade cards. When the progress report cards were mailed home, Rita would be sure to greet the letter carrier and replace any substandard grade cards with the enhanced ones she had filled out. Rita would be sure to improve her grades before the official quarter grades were sent home. Her parents never knew.

Rita was charming, kind, and mischievous. However, she could sometimes exasperate her teachers. Her grade 12 PE teacher made a deal with her that if she didn’t come to class, she would not be marked absent. It was a win-win. Her parents never knew.

Rita entered the convent at St. Francis in Joliet shortly after high school graduation. She loved it there, but also continued to be a bit of a rule breaker. She hid cigarettes in the kitchen and would sneak down at night to smoke. An older nun caught her. Rather than turn her in, she bummed a cigarette from Rita. They smoked late night cigarettes together after that. Rita and the sisters decided that she was probably not suited to a life of nunnery, and Rita left the convent after a couple of years. She was awarded an associate degree for her completed coursework.

After leaving the convent in 1958, Rita was asked to become the first lay teacher at Christ the King School in Springfield. She loved her students. She saved every note they wrote to her and kept in touch with many of them. She also began dating James Edward (Ed) Norris and quickly knew they wanted to spend their lives together. She married Ed in Springfield at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on May 2, 1959. Rita had to leave Christ the King when she became pregnant a year later. It seems silly now, but in 1960 it was viewed as inappropriate to have children learning from a pregnant teacher.

Rita and Ed started their family, and she was a dedicated homemaker for most of her children’s early years. Rita loved kids. With the support of Ed and her children, the Norris family fostered many children through Catholic Charities, most for extended periods. She went on to teach at St. Mary’s Grade School in Edwardsville from 1971-1978, where she taught several of her own children. They all called her Mrs. Norris while at school and all were better for it.

Rita was described by her large extended family as one of the most lovable people in the world. She enjoyed reading, getting together for weekly family game nights, and meeting up with her cherished friends for monthly luncheons. In her younger years, Rita had dreamt of being a Rockette. Once the kids were grown, Rita misstated her age to make her appear older, and signed up for tap dancing lessons at Springfield’s Senior Center. Rita became a talented tap dancer, and eventually taught tap dancing for 19 years. She was teaching classes until five weeks before her passing. Rita and Ed tapped with the Golden Girls and Guys and performed in the annual Mature Mob productions. Before she died, Rita was very busy preparing for her funeral. When it came time to select an outfit to be buried in, her kids suggested that she pick one of her dancing costumes of fishnet hose, leotard, sequined vest, and sparkly hat. But Rita decided to be buried in green to represent her beloved Irish ancestry.

About that ancestry…Rita’s kids grew up thinking they were 100% Irish. It wasn’t until they were in their forties that they found out that the O’Knoeppel side of the family didn’t really have an O’ in front of their name and were actually German. Rita explained that her kids were in fact 100% Irish, because they had 50% of the Irish from her side and 50% Irish from Ed’s side. Rita enjoyed a little creative math when it came to her love of everything Irish.

Rita was known to innocently cheat at cards and other games, often abetted by Ed and one or more children. She often said that had she grown up in different times, she would’ve been an attorney or race car driver. Her grandkids always looked forward to devouring her Christmas cookies and watching TV while piled like puppies on her bed. Rita did not like cats. She was devoted to her faith and was a member of the St. Agnes Altar Society and the Louise de Marillac Society.

Rita and Ed joyously celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this past May. Her passing leaves a hole in the lives of all that knew her, and their memories of her are a blessing.

Rita was preceded in death by her siblings, Ed, Jim, Mary (Farmer), Jack, Bob, Dick, and Don Cadagin; and her nephew, Rick Cadagin.

Rita is survived by her husband, Ed Norris and children, Jim (Eileen) Norris of Springfield, Karen (Mark) Gerdes of Springfield, Mike Norris of Bailey, CO, Patrick Norris of Aliso Viejo, CA, Steve Norris of Dana Point, CA, Jason (Jenny) Norris of Springfield, Jeremy (Julie) Norris of Reelsville, IN, and Anne (Brad) Bell of Pawnee. She often shared that she was grateful that her children took after Ed and were easier to raise than she was. She is also survived by her sister, Pat Snodgrass; sisters-in-law, Kathy Cadagin, Pat Cadagin, Peggy Cadagin, and Sharon Norris; brothers-in-law, John Norris and Chuck (Sharon) Norris; twenty-one grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and two on the way; many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Visitation: The family will receive relatives and friends from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. Visitation will begin with a prayer service at 4:00 p.m.

Funeral Mass: 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at St. Agnes Church, 245 N. Amos Ave, Springfield, with Rev. Zach Samples officiating.

Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Convent Retirement Fund or St. John’s Breadline.