Sister Rita Bruegenhagen SL Obituary

Sister Rita (formerly Sister Mary Ann Frederick) Bruegenhagen SL died March 22, 2025, at the Loretto Living Center on the grounds of Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, Ky. She was 88 and in the 68th year of her Loretto commitment. Born Feb. 25, 1937, in St. Louis, to Teresa (Brinkman) and Fred Roy Bruegenhagen. She was received into the Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross May 24, 1957. She earned a bachelor’s degree in French, with minors in business education and social studies, in 1961 from Webster University, Webster Groves, and a master’s in business administration in 1967 from the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind.  

In St. Louis, Sr. Rita was administrative assistant to the finance director of Cardinal Ritter Institute (1984-1986); business manager at Incarnate Word Academy (1986-1995); accounting instructor for the St. Louis Archdiocese (1995-1997) and bookkeeper for St. Peter Parish in Kirkwood (1997-2012). 

Elsewhere, Sr. Rita taught and was office assistant at Loretto in Kansas City, Mo.; began the Sisters Council in El Paso, Texas, and was business manager at Loretto Academy in El Paso, where she also later was a member of the school’s board; served as the finance person for Mile Hi Religious Education Conferences in Denver; and taught PSR at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Sr. Rita also volunteered working with adults with special needs and did filing for immigration lawyers. She served her congregation as Assistant to the Treasurer General and as Loretto’s Southern Province Treasurer. Her concern for detail, outstanding organizational and financial skills plus her sense of integrity were valued by others who also considered her a woman of great faith, great humor and a loyal friend. 

She loved history and talking with those with stories to tell of the past, visiting history exhibits and historical sites whenever possible. Sr. Rita resided in St. Louis for more than 35 years until moving to Loretto Motherhouse in 2021. There, she was often called on for projects, served on the Loretto Constitutions’ study groups for new members in process, and filled in whenever anyone was ill or on vacation. Most days she also could be found enjoying a walk on the Motherhouse campus.  

Her parents preceded her in death as did her brother, John, and sister, Teresa M. Bruegenhagen Emnett. A wake for Sr. Rita will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 30, with a funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10 a.m. ET on Monday, March 31, both at Loretto Motherhouse. Burial will be in Our Lady of Sorrows Cemetery on the grounds of Loretto Motherhouse.

Memorials may be made to the Sisters of Loretto for our mission, c/o Loretto Motherhouse, 515 Nerinx Road, Nerinx, KY 40049 or as an online gift at www.lorettocommunity.org.