Rita Ellen McMenomy, age 82, passed away peacefully on August 14, 2025. A devoted sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Rita lived in service to others. With a gift for caregiving, her life was defined by quiet strength, faith, kindness, and consideration for others. Her love for her family was unparalleled and her faith unwavering.Born on January 6, 1943 to James William (Bill) and Clare Gunderson in Stillwater Hospital, Rita grew up on the family farm in Grant Township with her 10 siblings. It is thought that this upbringing, surrounded by fields, prompted her love for plants and flowers. Moreover, it surely was the hard work of farm life that imbued the resilience and steadfastness with which she
carried herself.
A 1961 graduate of Stillwater High School, Rita started her caregiving career as a nursing assistant at St. Luke's Hospital in St. Paul. It was during these years she met John McMenomy, her husband of 59 years, at a Catholic youth dance. The two were married on June 4, 1966 and
shortly thereafter moved to Texas where Rita worked for St. Joseph's Hospital in Houston. In Texas, the couple welcomed the first of their 5 sons, Eugene. Within the year, the couple returned to MN to be close to family, where Rita continued her nursing assistant role at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul.
The couple raised their sons on the McMenomy Farm in Rosemount, and Rita shifted her caregiving role to motherhood defined by all the rambunctiousness you'd expect of farm-hardy boys. Rita wrangled her sons and their ceaseless shenanigans, interspersed with sports, church,
and farm work, with a firm but gentle hand. She was very protective of her boys, leading to tales of fending off rogue turkey flocks with a broom to get them to the bus and fighting colds with her famous homemade chicken noodle soup. It was by Rita's strength that the family weathered the loss of Eugene (age 19), demonstrating for all how to carry oneself with dignity  through hardship. Rita carried on her nurturing ways as a childcare provider after the boys had grown, caring for hundreds of babies during her 20+ year tenure with Kindercare before retiring to care for her own grandbabies.
Rita's service to others was constant, shown in fresh-baked cookie deliveries to a grieving friend, handwritten birthday cards sent without fail, and in the way she remembered to reach out when those around her were struggling with prayers and words of encouragement. Rita often said her knees were worn from the prayers she made on behalf of others, and it was undoubtedly true. Rita is preceded in death by her parents, James William (Bill) and Clare Gunderson, siblings, Lawrence, Mary Reeves, Eugene, John, Mark, William, David, Joseph, and son, Eugene. She is

survived by her husband John, sister Margaret Trent, brother Leonard, countless nieces and nephews, her sons Jim(Mary), Sean(Jess), Brian(Deborah), and Tim(Nikki), 12 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. Rita's caregiving legacy is one of gentleness, compassion, and grace. In honoring her, we are reminded that a life in service to others is priceless.
Services include a visitation from 10-11am, followed by funeral mass at 11am and burial at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Rosemount, on Monday, August 25 th .