Rita Belle Jarosz was born on Jan. 8, 1923 to Helen (Barnas) and George Jarosz on their family farm near Cornlea, Neb. Warren Harding was President, Prohibition had begun and the Roaring ’20s were underway. The oldest of her family, she was soon joined by three younger siblings, Alfred, LaVerna and Arnold. She received her education from the Franciscan Sisters at St. Michael’s Catholic School in Tarnov, a small rural town founded by her ancestors and a group of Polish Immigrants from Tarnow, Poland. While a student at St. Michael’s, she often stayed in town with her grandmother Agnes (Obdiezychleb Gourka) Jarosz, hearing stories in the Polish vernacular of her boat ride from Poland in 1888. Her grandmother never learned to speak English but would pray the rosary unceasingly, a habit that Rita would embrace her entire life. Her family of origin as well as her Polish Heritage instilled in Rita a deep and abiding faith.

When Rita was 4 years old, her Uncle Andrew Jarosz built the historic Lady of Lourdes Grotto on St. Michael’s Campus upon his return from the World War I, in honor of the Blessed Mother and the men from the town who fought in the war. When she was eighteen Pearl Harbor was attacked, igniting World War II and when she was 22, she joined the country in celebrating victory and peace. On Nov. 16, 1949, she married Maynard Schumacher, a returning Navy sailor who served aboard ship and grew up on a neighboring farm. They moved to a farm two miles from her homeplace and together they worked side by side, planting and harvesting crops and raising livestock. She soon became a mother of six children – Paul, Alice, Gene, Julie, Annette and Mathew – and her life’s vocation began.

The entire focus of Rita’s life was caring for and about her children. She was a wonderful homemaker, cook and baker – there was always a pie on the windowsill, fresh line-dried sheets on the beds, and a loaf of bread in the oven. But most of all, she was an amazing mom. Making memorable holidays for her children was important to her: Easter meant celebrating the Triduum, brand new outfits and endless baking. Each Memorial Day, her gardens provided delicious strawberry sundaes and rhubarb pies. On July 4, she would proudly announce that everything on the dinner table had been grown on their farm. Thanksgivings involved bounteous feasts and a “Pilgrim” guest (her brother-inlaw Dale). And Christmas Season brought the nightly St. Andrew Novena and a Christmas Eve visit from a masked Santa Claus (played by Rita) who pounded on the windows and demanded the recitation of the Hail Mary before any gifts were distributed. On your birthday, you could count on a mile-high angel food cake and a heartfelt birthday song wishing that “the Good Lord would bless you and keep you.” While her home was a Domestic Church filled with daily prayer and sacred images, it was also a place of laughter and activity, where current pop songs from the ’60s and ’70s constantly played in the background. She worked incredibly hard to make sure her children had a happy childhood.

Like Maynard, Rita only attended school through the 8th Grade but learning was keenly important to her. She wanted her children to have the opportunity of education that she didn’t have

Rita Schumacher

and worked tirelessly and sacrificed greatly to make sure each of her children got the gift of a Catholic education and attended college. Achieving accolades for herself was never a priority for Rita; she did not receive any big promotions, advanced degrees or walled plaques; her entire focus was the well-being and happiness of her children. There was never a time her children doubted their place as her first priority; she was truly the wind beneath their wings. When interviewed in 2010 by her granddaughter, asking what she believed to be her biggest achievement, Rita immediately responded with two words: “My kids.”

Rita was a doting grandmother, happily babysitting on a moment’s notice and taking great delight in the lives and personalities of her grandchildren. Rita loved her faith, laughter, and the gaiety of Polka music. She was a fiercely loyal wife, never leaving her husband’s side throughout his lengthy illness. She had a beautiful sense of style, a great sense of humor and a wonderful talent of storytelling. She defied nutritional science with a diet that often consisted primarily of bacon and chocolate. On occasion, she supplemented this regime with a red beer, joyfully cheering “Nostrovia!” with her visitors. Although she had much to be proud of, she remained humble, always making others feel good about themselves.

As Rita aged and her arms and legs could no longer cook a big meal or pick up a toddler, she continued helping her family ... through constant and fervent prayer. The minute she finished one rosary, she started another. She had a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph and St. Anthony and her humble prayers were always heard. Although Rita was not afraid of death, she fought hard to live a very long life, accepting all the infirmities and indignities of old age with a good dose of humor and not a single complaint. She did this for just one single reason: She knew her children couldn’t bear to let her go.

Joyfully welcoming Rita to heaven are her husband Maynard, her parents George and Helen Jarosz, her great-granddaughter Theresa Elizabeth Scott, her daughters-in-law Michele Schumacher and Keri Stock, her siblings Alfred, LaVerna and Arnold Jarosz, her niece Connie Beller, her in-laws Matthew and Nellie Schumacher, Ves and Alice Schumacher, Harold and Alvina Schumacher, Gerald and Ruth Schumacher, Mildred and Clem Schumacher, Bunny and Mark Noonan, Alvin, Dale, Arlene and Marlyn Schumacher.

Rita will be sorely missed by her grateful children Paul Schumacher, Alice (Mark) Denton, Gene (Chris) Schumacher, Julie (Mike) Foley, Annette (Jon) Schumacher Barr and Mathew Schumacher, 14 grandchildren (Leslie Denton, Nicole Crow, Kristen Iczkovitz, Marianne Denton, Jacqueline Denton Willoughby, Lauren Bassinger, Kelli Lierley, Patrick Denton, Thomas Schumacher, Catherine Mary Barr, Megan Scott, Anne Elizabeth Barr, Simon Schumacher and Joel Schumacher) and fourteen great grandchildren, all of whom will continue her faith in her memory and in her honor. She also leaves behind sisters-in-law Sylvia Preister, Nell Schumacher and Mary Schumacher and many nieces and nephews.