Rita Berringer

Rita S. BerringerAge 81 of Maple Park, IL, passed away Saturday morning, April 22, 2006 at the Provena Pine View Care Center, St. Charles where she was admitted to hospice care Friday evening after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. BORN: She was born July 12, 1924, in Virgil, IL, the youngest of four children born to Matthew and Mary (Strobel) Sauber. EARLY YEARS / EDUCATIONShe attended S.S. Peter & Paul School, Virgil and graduated from Mount Saint Mary High School, St. Charles with the class of 1942. In the first year of WWII, Rita worked for the Selective Service Center in Sycamore, IL, helping with military physicals. When a "going away" party was held for some of the men, Leo Berringer came that night with a buddy -but he left with Rita’s heart. MARRIAGE Two years later, they were wed at S.S. Peter & Paul Church, Virgil. It was November 23, 1944,and the old farm house they rented near Sycamore had no heat. As Rita would later tell the story, "…it was so cold that even two newlyweds couldn’t get warm."! In 1952 they moved to Maple Park to Broad Acres Dairy Farm near Beith and County Line Roads. They farmed there until 1989 when they switched to raising cattle. Rita loved animals and would take in strays. The story goes that their friend, Butch Geisen would bring his orphan lambs to Rita. She bedded them down with straw in their furnace room and fed them with a baby bottle. Lucky was the "litter-runt" who lived long enough to get to Rita. From sick animals to sick people, Rita was always there. In addition to farming with Leo, she also managed several doctor’s offices for a number of years. That career began in 1979 with Dr. Charles VanGorder and the Geneva Family Practice. Briefly she worked also for Dr. John Kelly and Dr. Robert Rivers before starting with Drs. Gekas, Keifer, Williams, LaBarre and others. It was the early 90’s and the practice was so busy, it might have been hard to tell who was giving and who was taking orders – the doctors, or Rita! Later she also worked for Dr. Kim Selir in Sycamore. In 1992 Rita and Leo stopped farming but continued to live at Broad Acres Farm until 1996 when they moved to the present family home in Maple Park. Always on the go, Rita was very active in St. Mary’s church, Maple Park and deeply devoted to her faith. She sang in the choir and, along with her friends, cooked for virtually every church gathering. She took her Catholic faith very seriously, but life itself – that, she took with a sense of humor and a funny story. Her most popular contributions were her famous "flop cake" and Long John’s. Chocolate pie was always her gift to the men who came to fill the silo and a glass of home-made wine waited in the mail box for the mail man every Christmas! A devoted wife, loving mother and proud grandmother and great grandmother! – Rita always found a way to be where she was needed and to do whatever it took to handle a situation. Family always came first, and somehow, so did everyone else. Though recent years brought ill health and in recent months, she lost Leo, Rita faced the storms of her last miles with characteristic faith, strong-willed determination and a well seasoned sense of humor. SURVIVORSShe is survived byFour children, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.Ron Berringer of Rockford Russ (Sandy) Berringer of Maple Park and their family:(Michael, Jennifer and her two children Jordan and Rosalynn) (yes -use 2 "n")Kathryn (Joe) Massa of Aurora, IL and their family( Meredith, Kayla and Danielle)Jim (Elizabeth) Berringer of Wheaton and their family:(Johnathon, Matthew) One sister-in-law, Frances SauberOne brother-in-law, Frank PetitMany nieces and nephewsAnd a community of friends. PRECEDED She is preceded in death by her husband, Leo ( Nov. 18, 2005)And three siblings:Francis Sauber Helen Petit and Joe SauberVISITATION / FUNERALVisitation will be held Tuesday, April 25, from 3-9pm at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL with wake services at 3:15pm Tuesday. Visitation will continue briefly at The Church of St. Mary, Maple Park, Wednesday morning, April 26, from 9:30am until 10:15am. Mass will follow at 10:30am with the Monsignor William Clausen officiating. Interment will conclude at S.S. Peter & Paul Cemetery, Virgil, IL. MEMORIALA memorial has been established in Rita’s name. Checks may be made to the Rita Berringer Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may be mailed to the same address or forwarded to the family through www.conleycare.com.

Wednesday April 26,2006 9:30-10:15 am Visitation 10:30 Funeral Service with