Rita Mae Schwaegel (nee Lanter), age 80, born March 24, 1927 in Belleville, Ill., passed away Thursday morning, November 15, 2007 at her residence at The Fountains III of Shiloh.

Rita Mae married Joseph Schwaegel on April 22, 1957 at the first wedding ceremony to be celebrated at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Belleville. Mrs. Schwaegel had worked at Weber Insurance as a bookkeeper for several years and also for the O'Fallon Progress as a proofreader and bookkeeper. She worked as a cashier in the lunch line at St. Clare Catholic School. She later was employed as a cashier at S&M Quick Stop in O'Fallon. Rita Mae was a member of the Senior Citizens Club of O'Fallon. She and her late husband, Joe, were very active in the O'Fallon community; they played the role of Mr. and Mrs. Claus for many years. She was a longtime devoted member of St. Clare Catholic Church, where she was active in the Altar Sodality and the St. Clare's Seniors Club. She was a former Altar Angel and was a Eucharistic Minister to the homebound. She loved to garden and enjoyed being outdoors and especially loved playing cards. Her family will fondly remember her for her love of baking cookies, quilting and sewing.

Rita Mae was preceded in death by her parents, August & Adele (nee Louis) Lanter, her husband, Joseph, who passed away October 30, 1997, brothers Cletus Lanter and Kenneth Lanter; and sisters Adeloise Bress and Florence Schindler.

She is survived by her daughters Jo Ann (Craig) Pickett of Denver, Colo; and Margaret (John) Stice of Troy, Ill; seven grandchildren, Mathew (fiancee Amy Murashegi), Marc, and Jason Pickett; and Marla, Cathy (Friend David Gottschalk), Steven, and Peter Stice; sisters Delores Grimmer and Jean Lanter, both of Belleville, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

In honor of Mrs. Schwaegel, Memorial Donations are suggested to either American Lung Association, St. Vincent de Paul, Masses, or St Clare Catholic Church Building Fund,.

Visitation: Friends may call 4 – 8 p.m., Sunday, November 18, 2007 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington St., O'Fallon, Ill. The Senior Citizens Club of O'Fallon will conduct at walk-through at 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Funeral: Procession will depart Wolfersberger Funeral Home 9:45 a.m, Monday, November 19, 2007 for a 10:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Clare Catholic Church, 1411 Cross St., Shiloh, Ill., with Msgr. Don Eichenseer presiding.

Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Shiloh, Ill., along side her husband.