Sr. Rita Clare Kristoff

Hazel Green, Wisconsin

Sister Rita Clare Kristoff, OP, died May 11, 2024, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green, Wisconsin. Her funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. May 22 in the chapel at St. Dominic Villa. Burial was held May 13 in St. Clara Cemetery at Sinsinawa Mound, Sinsinawa, Wisconsin. Casey-McNett Funeral Home and Cremation Services is handling arrangements.

She was born as Patricia Anne on July 14, 1939, to Joseph and Barbara (Gersich) Kristoff in Pittsburgh, Penn. She first made profession with the School Sisters of St. Francis of Christ the King, Lemont, Ill., in 1958 and received the religious name of Sister Rita Clare. In 1966, she earned her BS in education from St. John College of Cleveland, Ohio. She transferred her vows to the Sinsinawa Dominicans in 1995.

Sister Rita Clare’s ministry was dedicated to elementary education. As a Franciscan Sister, she taught for 30 years working extensively with children with learning disabilities. In Pennsylvania, she taught at St. Peter School, Steelton, and at St. Nicholas School and St. Ann School, both Millvale. In Ohio, she taught at St. Christine School, Euclid. Sister Rita Clare taught in Wyoming at SS. Cyril and Methodius School, Rock Springs, and in Indiana at St. Joseph the Worker School, Gary. In Illinois, she taught at St. Stephen School and Sacred Heart School, both Chicago, and at St. Joseph School, Joliet. As a Dominican Sister, she ministered in Illinois and taught at St. Thomas More School and St. Basil School and served as resource person and helped children with special needs at St. Thomas the Apostle School, Chicago. Sister Rita Clare also served as catechist at Divine Infant Parish, Westchester.

Sister Rita Clare was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her cousins, Mildred Shaginaw and Jennifer Smail, and her Dominican Sisters. Memorials may be made to the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, WI, or given online at www.sinsinawa.org/donate.