Rita Marie ANTKOWSKI

17 AUG 1931 - 17 APR 2015

• BIRTH: 17 AUG 1931, Three Rivers, St Joseph, MI
• DEATH: 17 APR 2015, Sterling House, South Bend, IN

• MARRIAGE: 23 OCT 1952, St Joseph County, IN

INDEX

[N28251] Rita Marie Bland
nee Antkowski
August 17, 1931 - April 17, 2015

South Bend, Indiana - Rita M. Bland, 83, died at 2:45 a.m. Friday at Sterling House, 17441 Indiana 23, in South Bend, with Jack, her devoted husband of 62 years at her side. Rita courageously battled Alzheimer's in the last few years of her life. She was born in Three Rivers, Mich., on Aug. 17, 1931, the only daughter of Helen and Michael Antkowski. Rita was an outstanding student at South Bend Catholic High School, finishing near the top of her class. On Oct. 25, 1952 at St. Hedwig Catholic Church in South Bend, she married Jack and together the two raised four boys, Mark, Kevin, Thomas P. (Karrie) Bland, of Spring Grove, Ill., and Terrence J. (Beth) Bland, of South Bend. Both Mark and Kevin preceded her in death. Rita has four grandchildren, Marcus, of Chicago, Michael, Joshua and Justin Bland. Rita is also survived by sister-in-law Joan Williams (Rex, deceased), of South Bend, and a niece and nephews. Rita was a devoted Notre Dame Sports fan and worked at the university for 13 years in the development office. She retired in August 1994. Rita was a stay-at-home mom for much of her early married life, taking care of four boys with appetites that tested the meager salary of a city firefighter. But she always found a way to stretch a dollar and make a pound of hamburger feed a growing family. She was totally devoted to her sons, driving them to early morning hockey practices or helping to deliver the South Bend Tribune in bad weather. When she did have some time to herself, she would often get together with her girlfriends and host card parties, though there was more gossip and talk than playing of cards. She liked to keep busy, going to garage sales with friends and testing her skills at any number of crafts, including bonsai and decoupage. She was a wonderful cook and truly enjoyed whipping up a batch of homemade chicken soup or chili on a cool fall Saturday of a Notre Dame home football game. She loved tending to her flowers and working in her herb garden. On warm, sunny days Rita loved sitting on the back deck of her home on Angela Boulevard, sipping coffee and reading the morning paper. But her true love was sewing. When her sons were young she would sew them shirts for Christmas. In her later years, she became an expert quilter. She would work for weeks or months on a quilt making sure she got every detail right. The love and care she took in making those quilts made them unique keepsakes for friends and family. Rita's daughters-in-law treasure the uniqueness of those gifts to this day. Cremation will take place. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend. A Mass of Christian burial will take place at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, April 23, 2015 at St. Matthew Cathedral, 1701 Miami St., South Bend. Rev. Msgr. Michael Heintz will officiate.There will be a burial service for immediate family at Highland Cemetery following the funeral Mass where Rita will be buried alongside her parents and her two sons, Mark and Kevin. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Grace Hospice, 5838 W. Brick Road, Suite 101, South Bend. The family would like to thank the staffs of Sterling House and Grace Hospice. The caring and love they showed Rita and her family in these final months will never be forgotten.
To send online condolences, please visit, www.kaniewski.com.