Rita Hower

Rita Hower

February 20, 1944 – October 18, 2024

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter “Duke” Hower; granddaughter, Lily Hower; parents, Lynn and Cecelia Friend; sisters, Doris Durkan and Rosemarie Hausner; brothers: John, Joseph, Robert, and William Friend.

Survived by sons: John (Diane), Joe (Kendra), Tim, Bill (Tamyra), Dan (Megan), and Matt (Steffanie) Hower; daughter, Katie (Eron) Welchans; 17 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Carol and Patricia Friend; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

How can we possibly encapsulate the force that was Rita Mae? Love. She had an endless capacity for love. She loved her family, and it didn’t matter if you were a relative, married into the family, or a friend – everyone was family. Rita and Duke’s door was always open, and Sunday dinners were like weekly holidays. They were crowded and never short on questionable jokes, laughter, and food. You could find her at every gathering with a sleeping child on her shoulder. Rita loved to hold, rock, kiss, and sing to her children, then later her grandchildren and great-grandchildren – we all know her songs. She was selfless, always putting her family first. We knew she loved us even when she was strict. She would say, “someone is going to run the house” and no one doubted it was her.

She loved a crowd and worked a crowd better than anyone; she never met a stranger. Growing up with a large family herself, she knew how to stand out and was never shy about it. Duke would tease and say, “her whole family is like that.” Rita was the consummate storyteller. Her stories, jokes, and antics occasionally (ok frequently) involved something shocking which brought her a lot of joy. She worked in administrative positions in law firms, at Hower CPA, and at Creighton University. Years after she left Creighton, people still remembered her wit and humor. For the last few years of her life, she lived at the Eastern Nebraska Veteran’s Home in Bellevue, and people there also knew her well. She told the staff and her roommate that she loved them, and she meant it. In her last few days, everyone we saw there told us how much they loved Rita, too.

She loved Duke. Rita met Duke while still in high school – they were introduced by Jack and Theresa Bellus. It was Ash Wednesday when they had their first date and Rita came to the door with ashes still on her forehead. Duke thought she was beautiful (she was) and the only girl for him. They married a few years later when she was nearly twenty. You couldn’t find two people who were more different in personality, but they were best friends and were married for nearly sixty years. We are comforted knowing she is at peace with the love of her life.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

VISITATION: Tuesday, October 29, 2024, from 4:00-6:30PM, VIGIL SERVICE: at 6:30PM at West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road, Omaha

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at 10:30AM at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 6905 Blondo St., Omaha.

ENTOMBMENT: Calvary Mausoleum

Memorials are suggested to Creighton Prep High School and Mercy High School.