A funeral Mass was celebrated Oct. 10 in the chapel of the Ruma Center in Ruma, Ill., for Sister Rita Marie Lucash. Sister Rita Marie, 89, was a professed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ for 70 years. She died Oct. 2 at the Ruma Center.

Born in Freeburg, Ill., Sister Rita Marie made first vows in 1947 and final vows in 1952. She earned a bachelor's degree in geography with minors in education and philosophy from St. Louis University in 1967. She graduated from the religious education program at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., in 1990 and the ministry to ministers program at St. Mary's in San Antonio in 1992. She also was a certified catechist, attending more than 60 courses in catechesis.

She worked in elementary education for 40 years as a teacher, principal and organist, including at the former St. Jerome Parish in north St. Louis County. She taught in Kelso and Tipton, Mo., and at several schools in southern Illinois, including the Catholic Children's Home in Alton.

Even after Sister Rita Marie moved to the Ruma Center in the early 1990s, she remained active doing clerical work, assisting the provincial secretary for six years, working with the Ruma Center activity director, serving as a chauffeur and as a lector at Mass, playing the organ for liturgies and prayer services, delivering mail to the sisters and proofreading. She enjoyed embroidery, listening to classical music and working crossword puzzles. She loved to pray the Rosary and had a green thumb.

Burial was in the Ruma convent cemetery.