Rita Witges

Rita Alvina Witges, 80, of Scheller, Ill., died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007, at Crossroads Community Hospital in Mount Vernon, Ill.

She was a member of St. Barbara's Catholic Church in Scheller and Catholic Daughters.

Witges was born Aug. 25, 1926, at Oran, Mo., daughter of Joseph and Annie Baudendistel Bisher. She and Raymond A. Witges were married June 1, 1946, at Oran.

Survivors include her husband; four sons, Robert Witges of Galatia, Ill., Ray Witges of Scheller, Larry Witges of LaPorte, Ind., James Witges of Columbia, Ill., two daughters, Mary Kay Bengtson of Raleigh, N.C., Shirley Phillips of Stilwell, Kan., three brothers, Joe Bisher of St. Louis, Simon Bisher of Cape Girardeau, Ferdinand Bisher of Saxton, Pa.; and 10 grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a brother.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Barbara's Church, with the Rev. Robert Zwilling officiating. Burial will be at a later date.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Searby Funeral Home in Tamaroa, Ill. The rosary will be recited at 7 p.m..