Rita C. Wolfe
April 14, 1939 – February 25, 2025
Rita Claire Sterba was born on April 14, 1939, in Omaha to Edward Sterba and Rita (Matula) Sterba.
As the younger sister of Don and Eddie, she spent her youth in Omaha, with a stint in Oregon during World War II. In May 1956, she saw Elvis Presley perform at the Civic Auditorium. Rita graduated from Duchesne Academy in 1957 and soon thereafter began a lifetime of travel with a trip to Europe.
In the early 1960’s, she met, and later married, Thomas Allen Wolfe. Tom and Rita had 3 children, Laura, Becky, and Tommy, to whom they provided an idyllic childhood.
Rita volunteered a lot for many years, and not just for her children’s activities, but also to help friends and complete strangers at schools in Bellevue and countless Catholic Groups, including St. Robert’s Parish and Mt. Michael. She started a prayer shawl group at St. Robert’s that knitted and distributed hundreds of scarfs to soldiers and those in need of warmth or comfort. Rita found peace, fulfilment, and friendship in her volunteering.
Rita continued to travel throughout her life, including trips to the Vatican (where she ran into the Pope!), Egypt, and Israel. in 2015, she led a family trip to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain, a trip that will not be forgotten and just one of the ways that she showed her love to a family of which she was so proud.
Her family, which included: Laura and Tom Walker, Becky and Dave Walsh, Tom and Andrea Wolfe; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren, loved her dearly. Rita died on February 25, 2025, after a short illness, but she shared stories and laughter with her family until the end. Hers was a life well-lived.
Rosary: Thursday, March 6th, 9:30am at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church with Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 10:30am.
Private Interment.
Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler, West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road, Omaha, Ne 68124. (402)-391-3900. www.heafeyheafey.com
5 Comments
Our family was so blessed to have known and loved Rita. She was a person of exceptional integrity, genuine kindness, and great devotion. I have many happy memories of Rita’s delicious meals, festive holiday events and her constant and lovely smile. Everything Rita said came from her heart, and she taught me many lessons, large and small, as a child and young woman. I will deeply miss her.
Rita was such a unique individual! I always enjoyed our chats when I was blessed to have bumped into her! She was so proud of her kids and grandkids. I’m sure her kindness and zest for life will be greatly missed. My prayers will be with her family.
Rita was such a unique individual! I always enjoyed our chats when I was blessed to have bumped into her! She was so proud of her kids and grandkids. I’m sure her kindness and zest for life
will be greatly missed. My prayers will be with her family.
So very sorry for your loss Tom, prayers go out to you and your family,
Kind Regards, Mary Ann
People say: “no one is truly gone as long as they are remembered”. I am deeply sorry for your loss Tom, may you and your family find comfort in the memories and love you shared. Sending you my heartfelt condolences and a warm hug. Maribel
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