Rita Bork

Rita F. Bork, age 88, of Elgin, formerly of Maple Park, IL, passed away in the quiet hours of the morning, on Tuesday, July 12, 2016, at Oak Crest Nursing Home in Elgin, IL, where she had made her home in recent years. Answering the call of her Savior, she is now free to reunite with her husband, Howard, for eternity.
She was born May 26, 1928, in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Stanley and Frances (Barron) Gerlovich.
Rita grew up in Chicago, IL, and attended local schools. She graduated with the class of 1946 from Steinmetz High School (which had the dubious distinction of being Hugh Hefner’s alma mater).
Following graduation, Rita continued to work at Sass, a fruit stand-delicatessen. Although her time in food service included a stint at Fraelich’s, a malt shop in Des Plaines, Rita spent most of her working years with the telephone company, first as an operator in Chicago, and later she worked in the factory, refurbishing phones.
Rita met the man she would marry on a hay ride alongside her best friend. Howard Bork caught her eye on that first trip, but made it official a year later when they made the trip down the aisle on June 14, 1947, at St. Pri cilla’s Catholic Church.
They began their new life together with Rita’s parents for several years before making a home at the Bork Homestead in Bensenville near O’Hare. In 1955, the now growing family moved to Arlington Heights. In 1961, they moved to a farm in Maple Park where they found themselves surrounded by not only their children, by also 2,000 chickens that produced over 1,000 eggs per day. The farm was rounded out by cattle, pigs and an armful or two of dogs and cats (though Rita loved the dogs more). Retirement brought the day to day operations to a halt in the 1980’s. Howard and Rita rented out the farm while they concentrated on travel and spending time with their family. Their sunset years lasted until Howard passed in 1998. Rita sold the farm and moved in with her son until declining health brought her into the care of Oak Crest in Elgin.
She was a member of Homemakers Extension and served in various capacities. Rita was also a faithful member of S.S. Peter & Paul Catholic Church.
Rita loved to garden and had quite the green thumb. Her stories were “legendary” and only got more so as the years went by. Wonderful smells were always wafting out the kitchen as she kept busy cooking and baking. After Howard’s passing, Rita traveled to Europe, Alaska, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Italy and more. Memories were made with every mile. Her work ethic was strong, but her personal skills were off the chart. It’s rumored she had an honorary Doctorate in Marketing from the “School of Hard Knocks”. She packed cases of eggs in the back of the car (minus the back seat) and traveled to friends, neighbors, and bakeries, from west of County Line Road to the city limits of Chicago and everywhere in between. Rita loved to talk and she was quick with a smile, making friends as easily as walking down the street.
She is survived by three children: Glenn (Kathleen) Bork, Gwendolyn (Steve) Farver and Gregory Bork; Five grandchildren: Melissa Kast, Tonya Zimny, Chris (Nicole) Bork, Kimberly (Joseph) Cinquegrani and Michelle Martin; eight great-grandchildren: Ashley, Dustin, Brooke, Collin, Arianna, Brennan, Connor, Annabelle; One great-great grandson, Nathan; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law; several nieces, nephews and a countryside of friends.
She is preceded by her parents, Stanley and Frances Gerlovich; her loving husband of 51 years, Howard and one brother, Edward Gerlovich.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Rita’s name to benefit her favorite charities. Checks may be made to the “Rita Bork Memorial” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address, the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page or you can see her full life story at www.conleycare.com.

Mass to celebrate her faith will be Saturday, July 16, 2016, at 11 a.m., with a time of visitation from 10 -10:45 a.m., at S. S. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Virgil. Fr. Perfecto Vasquez, pastor of the church, will officiate with interment to follow at S.S. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., followed by a rosary, Friday, July 15, 2016, at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL.

S.S. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery