Rita R. Sobetski
January 13, 1929 – July 16, 2024
After 95 years of life, Rita left us to join our Lord.
Rita was born in 1929 to Francis and Rose Pflaum. She grew up in Holy Name Parish in a joyous home filled with relatives and friends. Rita graduated from Holy Name grade and high school, where she made lifelong friends. Helping out her Dad’s employer, the Union Pacific RR, Rita worked summers and after high school in Sun Valley and Zion National Park.
After six months in the convent, discerning that was not her vocation, Rita found her niche and secretarial acumen in the business office of the UPRR. A blind date arranged by friends brought her Edmund Sobetski, who she married in 1953 after he returned from Korea. They settled in Holy Name Parish, raising six children and creating deep community. Ed & Rita were active in the Catholic Family Movement, and assisted a Cuban refugee family with housing, food, jobs and friendship.
Rita was always busy with parish and neighborhood activities. She served as Den Mother for Boy Scout troops and as secretary for the Tuesday ladies’ bowling league, started coffee klatches and neighbor lady exercise groups, was a founding member of the Birthday Club, and sewed matching dresses for her daughters and their dolls. Their Catholic faith was foundational for Rita and Ed, exemplified in their daily rosary. After 55 years of loving marriage, Ed passed away in 2008.
After Ed’s death, Rita entered a new phase of life at the Remington Heights Retirement Home. She crocheted baby blankets and caps for the Linus Project, continued her avid reading, became iconic on the exercise bike, played cards weekly, was ‘the puzzle lady’, and did readings at Sunday mass. Her evening hour of prayer included novenas for family and friends. Rita made a habit of helping others, and was a fount of sage, faith-filled, kind advice
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edmund Sobetski, her sister, Patricia McCarthy, and son-in-law, Victor Helbling.
Rita is survived by brother Gregory (Barbara) Pflaum; sister Marcella (Garry) Callahan; children, Peter (Janet) Sobetski, Ruth (Paul) Ploof, Rosemarie Helbling, Matthew (Diane) Sobetski, Mary Kay (Richard) Fairbanks, and Daniel (Kelley) Sobetski; 22 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and godchildren.
Visitation: Monday, July 22nd, from 5-6:30PM at Holy Name Catholic Church with a Vigil Service at 6:30PM.
Mass of Christian Burial: Tuesday, July 23rd, 10:30AM at Holy Name Catholic Church.
Interment: Calvary Cemetery at 1:30PM
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Holy Name Catholic Church
Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler, West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road, Omaha, Ne 68124. (402)-391-3900. www.heafeyheafey.com
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