Rita Kramer

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Sister Rita Kramer, CSA, formerly Sister Sara, died peacefully January 26, at St. Francis Home, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Rita was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, on December 1, 1943, the daughter of Leo E. Kramer and Veronica J. Loehr Kramer. She was the sixth child in a family of twelve Kramer children, ten girls and two boys.  Rita spoke fondly of their big happy family growing up on a farm in Dotyville, Wisconsin. When the family outgrew the farmhouse in Dotyville, Rita’s parents purchased a larger home and farm in Armstrong, Wisconsin. With her brothers and sisters, Rita enjoyed many wonderful days working, playing, and praying together on their beautiful farmland in the Kettle Moraine area.  She also spoke of the tragic accident, a fire, that took the life of her older sister, Virginia, at the age of seven and of the loss of her younger sister, Ann, who died shortly after birth.  Her family always believed their two angels were watching over them.

Rita attended St. Mary’s Springs Academy in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where she first met the Sisters of St. Agnes. After graduating in 1961, Rita followed the call within her heart to become a Sister.  She entered St. Agnes Convent in August 1961. After Rita spent three years in the congregation’s formation program, illness caused her to return home.  She then taught at St. Mary’s School in Fond du Lac for two years. During that time her love for the Sisters of St. Agnes grew, and she requested to return to the congregation. She re-entered St. Agnes Convent in August 1966 and made her first profession of vows as Sister Sara in the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes on August 15, 1967, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Sister Rita graduated from Marian College, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, in 1966, with a BS in Elementary Education.  She earned a Masters in Religious Studies from Marygrove College, Detroit, Michigan, in 1976.  From 1967-1981, Sister ministered in education as a teacher in parish elementary schools in Wisconsin and Illinois, and for one year as the Director of Religious Education at St. Bernard’s Parish, Watertown, Wisconsin.  Starting in 1981, Sister Rita’s focus began changing from teaching ministry to healing ministry. She worked in the Financial Aid Office at Marian College and drove for the sisters residing at the Boyle Apostolic Center in Fond du Lac from 1981 – 1984. During that time she earned her certification as a nurse aide from Moraine Park Technical Institute in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, in 1983. Her first years ministering in healthcare were spent at Nazareth Heights, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, the CSA retirement center. In 1992, Sister Rita began serving as a certified nurse aide in home health care and hospice, first, at Berlin Homecare and St. Agnes Hospital Hospice, Berlin, Wisconsin, and later at Hospice Home of Hope in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Compassion, encouragement, loving care, a listening heart and so much more were part of the daily experience of those she served throughout her years in hospice ministry.

In January 2013, Sister Rita joined the community of CSA sisters residing at Nazareth Court and Center in Fond du Lac. There she spent her days volunteering and assisting in numerous ways to enhance the life of the sisters. True to the mission of CSA, she exemplified genuine hospitality, loving service, and care for all creation.

Sister Rita was admitted to St. Francis Home in November of 2022. There she received loving care until the time of her death.

 Preceding Sister Rita in death were her parents and her sisters Virginia, Ann, Bernadette Woeshnick and Mary Wible; her brothers-in law, Jerry Braun and Wayne Smits.

Sister is survived by her sisters, Monica (Jack) Roltgen, Susan Braun, Rosie (Bob) Baker, Magdalene Mayer, Kathy Smits; her brothers Frank (Anne) Kramer, Leo (Chris) Kramer; her brothers-in-law John Wible and Peter Woeshnick; several nieces and nephews and their families, and the Sisters of St. Agnes, with whom she lived, prayed and ministered.

Cremation has taken place.  Visitation will be held at Nazareth Court and Center, 375 Gillett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, from 10:00—11:00 a.m. and from 12:00—1:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2023.

A prayer service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on February 2, 2023, in the Nazareth Center Chapel. Please check in for the Visitation and Prayer Service at the 375 Gillett Street entrance only.

A Liturgy of Christian Burial for Sister Rita will be held February 2, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. in St. Francis Home Chapel, 33 Everett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, with Tom Zelinski, Capuchin, presiding. Burial at St. Joseph’s Springs Cemetery, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be directed to the CSA Mission Advancement Office, 320 County Road K, Fond du Lac, WI 54937.

The Sisters of St. Agnes are grateful to the nurses and staff of Nazareth Court and Center, St. Francis Home, and Hospice Hope for their care of Sister Rita. 

Zacherl Funeral Home is serving the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes.