Rita Ligocki Obituary

Rita June Ligocki (nee Peterson)
Rita entered God's loving arms on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the age of 95. She was born on May 22, 1930, on the feast of St. Rita to the late Ethel and Francis Peterson in West Allis, Wisconsin.
Rita was the seventh of 17 children in the Peterson bunch and found her place as her mother's helper, doing anything she could to ease her workload, such as running morning errands or assisting with her younger siblings. She developed a strong work ethic at a young age, eagerly working at her favorite Uncle Tom's drug store, the Blatz Bar at the State Fair, and her brother Carl's Beer Depot. In school, Rita loved arithmetic and was proud to be a high school graduate. As she got older, she enjoyed her time working at Oilgear and Kearney and Trecker. It was during her time at Oilgear that she caught the eye of her late husband, Harry Ligocki.
Harry grew up in a home quite the opposite of Rita, so he loved coming over to experience the daily hustle and bustle of hers, often claiming it reminded him of Grand Central Station. Rita taught Harry how to drive, and they loved to go dancing at the Eagles Club. They were married on April 18, 1953, and raised four children together - Wayne, Susan, Jane, and Mary. Harry insisted on getting tickets to everything, so together they enjoyed theater productions, plays, nights out at the Melody Top, musical performances like Frank Sinatra and Steve and Eydie, and Badger, Brewer, and Bucks sporting events. Sadly, Harry passed away in 1992 after living with leukemia for 11 years. Although she continued to work for a while after Harry's passing, the thought of living alone was a foreign concept to her, so she moved in with her daughter Susan's family and cared for her grandchildren, Danielle, Carolyn, and Nick. She also managed and contributed to many aspects of their family's business, and although the work was laborious and thankless at times, she was always there to help in any way she could. Living with Susan's family allowed Rita to build immeasurable bonds with her grandchildren-connections that only grew stronger over time.
To know Rita was to love her. She was a strong, independent, and resilient woman, with a can-do spirit. She was truly a force to be reckoned with. She was a spitfire, not afraid to speak or stand up for what she believed in. She crossed her T's and dotted her I's. She was clever and handy. For her, there was nothing a fresh coat of paint couldn't fix or a project she couldn't tackle. She had an optimistic outlook on life and started every day with a positive attitude. She had a heart of gold and a willingness to help anyone and everyone that needed it. In fact, if she saw someone waiting at a bus stop or walking in inclement weather, she wouldn't hesitate to offer a ride. A true patriot, she loved this country passionately. She valued good manners, nice posture, and neat hand-writing. She was a loyal friend and would spend hours talking on the phone. One of her favorite meals was breakfast at Ted's as she visited with Treva. She enjoyed touring the city to visit her siblings and gathering for family picnics at McCarty Park. She was witty and never took herself too seriously. She loved talk-radio and sweet treats. She faced adversity and negativity head on. Her motto was "kill 'em with kindness." She devoted her life to being the most loving daughter, sister, friend, mother, wife, grandma, and great-grandma. She was simply the best.
Rita shined in her role as grandmother and was always so proud of all her grandchildren. She never missed an opportunity to be present for both big and small events -she loved it all. When duty called, she would travel near and far to care for her grandchildren. She was a caretaker, a potty-trainer, a chauffeur, a cheerleader, a videographer, a seamstress, and so much more. She even sent everyone off to college with mini sewing kits, tool boxes, and instructions on how to do laundry the "right way." She enjoyed sharing stories of her childhood and wisdom from her life experiences. Her grandchildren were truly blessed.
In the last couple of years, Rita's physical and mental health gradually declined, and she became more and more dependent on her daughter, Susan. However, they were two peas in a pod, laughing one second and bickering the next. It certainly wasn't easy, but Rita was so grateful for the family that cared for her until the very end, and she never ceased to express her appreciation. Although her family is grieving the loss of this incredible woman immensely, they take comfort in knowing that she is with the Lord, Harry, and her siblings and parents, and that she is finally pain-free.
Rita was loved so much by so many people. She will be missed dearly every single day, and her absence will be felt for a long time. Her sweet and smiling face will never be forgotten, nor will the countless things that she taught those near to her.
Rita's family would like to extend a special thank you to Alex, Crystal, the Aurora Healthcare & Hospice Team, and to Tammy.
Rita was preceded in death by her parents, Francis and Ethel Peterson; husband, Harry; 13 of her siblings (Carlotta, Ethel, Carl, Lois, Joanne, Judy, Tom, Delores, Gloria, Florence, Jack, Gerald, Frank); and many other relatives and friends. She is survived by three sisters (Janet, Carole, Patty); her children: Wayne, Susan (Tommy, d.2020) Cianciolo, Jane (Jim) Wannemaker, and Mary (Randall) Reinker; grandchildren: Kristen, Joe (Holly), Jennifer (Geoff), Kelly, Danielle (Joe), Carolyn, Nick, Madison, Rachel, John, and Dana (Michael); great grandchildren: Ivy, Ella, Charlotte, Grace, Harry, Bennett, and Thea; nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends.
A Mass of Christian burial will take place at ST. JOHN VIANNEY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 1755 N. Calhoun Rd. Brookfield, Wisconsin on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 11:00 AM. Please join the family after Mass in a gathering space on the lower level of St. John Vianney for a luncheon and to continue the celebration of Rita's life.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude’s, Ronald McDonald House, or your favorite children's organization in honor of Rita's love for kids.
Church & Chapel Funeral Service Serving the Family Milw. 262-827-0659 Wauk. 262-549-0659 Online Obit, Condolences, Directions www.churchandchapel.com