A teacher, pastoral minister and a Sister of Mercy for 70 Years!
Born in 1924 to parents Henry and Ida (Funfsinn) Pitstick in Peterstown, IL, Sister Rita was the eighth of 16 children. Her parents were hard-working successful farmers. She attended a one-room country schoolhouse from first through fifth grades. When she was in the sixth grade, she transferred to St. Columba School in Ottawa, IL, where she was taught by the Sisters of Mercy who inspired her to become a sister.
After attending Marquette High School in Ottawa for two years, she entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1942. There she completed her high school education. She then went on to earn a bachelor's in education from Saint Xavier College. She became an elementary school teacher and taught in various Catholic schools in Illinois and Wisconsin for 25 years, where many knew her as Sister Mary Lelia.
Influenced by the Second Vatican Council, Sister Rita felt a strong desire to become more involved with religious education and pastoral ministry. She earned a master's degree in theology from St. Xavier in 1971 and a CPE in pastoral care from Alexian Brothers Hospital in 1979. For almost 20 years, she served several Chicago parishes in this role.