Rita Irene Stewart, 90, Bowlus

June 8, 1924 - May 1, 2015

Mass of Christian Burial celebrating the life of Rita I. Stewart, age 90, of Bowlus, will be at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Elmdale. Father John Odero will officiate and burial will take place in the parish cemetery. There will be a visitation from 4:00-8:00 PM on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 and again after 10:00 until the time of service Wednesday all at the church in Elmdale. Parish prayers will be at 7:00 PM Tuesday evening at the church. Arrangements are being made with the Miller-Carlin Funeral Home of Upsala.

Rita was born on June 8, 1924 to Stanley and Cecelia (Kedrowski) Bartkowicz in Swan River Township. She grew up with seven siblings and attended the local school. On Oct. 28, 1946 Rita married Joseph Stewart at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Sobieski. She enjoyed working outdoors and loved fresh flowers and planting in her gardens. A soap opera fan, Rita also had a passion for reading. She loved her family above all else. Rita was a woman with deep Catholic faith and was devoted to praying her rosary daily. She was an active member of St. Edward’s Catholic Church, the Rosary Sodality, and the Funeral Group.

Rita is survived by her children Jerome Stewart (Carolyn Bennett), St. Paul Park; John (Judy) Stewart, Sartell; Ron (Nancy) Stewart, Elmdale; Beverly (Dale) Molitor, Doss, MO; her brothers and sisters Laura Jarnot, Holdingford; Richard Bartkowicz, Swanville; Donald (Bernadine) Bartkowicz, Bowlus; Ernie (Jeanette) Bartkowitz, Little Falls; six grandchildren Nicole, Josh, Abria, Rebecca, Dustin, and Aaron; six great-grandchildren Olivia, Sam, Jake, Joslynn, Jackson, and Rowan; as well as other family and friends.

She is preceded by her parents Stanley and Cecelia, husband Joe in 1992, sisters Esther Lashinski, Gertrude Milbert, Elsie Maciej, and grandson Cody Molitor.