A funeral Mass was celebrated for Sister Rose Rita Orf on Dec. 9 in St. Joseph Chapel of the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood of O’Fallon. Sister Rose Rita, a retired teacher, died Dec. 3 at age 101.
Born in Flint Hill on May 5, 1920, she was baptized the next day as Catherine Elizabeth Orf. She entered the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood’s novitiate in 1945 and professed first vows in 1947. She received a bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame College in St. Louis.
Sister Rose Rita dedicated 47 years to teaching in elementary schools. In Missouri, she taught at St. Monica in Creve Coeur; St. Peter in Fulton; St. Joseph in Rhineland; St. John the Baptist in Gildehaus; St. Theodore in Flint Hill; Sacred Heart in Ozora; St. Patrick in Wentzville; St. Agnes in Bloomsdale; and Most Sacred Heart in Florissant. She also taught in Quincy, Illinois and Pueblo, Colorado.
Sister Rose Rita was a deeply prayerful person, always quick to express gratitude. In a 1989 letter, she wrote, “God is so good to me, and I thank Him every day for His love for this small creature so prone to question the ‘why’s.’” Her trust in God was her bedrock. Throughout her 101 years, she treasured time with her family.
