Rita E. Wende, 83, of Seneca, KS, died on Sunday, February 5, 2012 at Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.

Rita was born on January 7, 1929, to Oscar and Anna Gertrude Volz Hughes of Axtell. She grew up in the Beattie / Axtell community and graduated from Bern High School. She attended nursing school for a short time, and worked at the Sabetha Hosiptal before getting married.

She married Raymond W. “Ray” Wende on April 2, 1949, in Seneca. They lived in Sabetha, then relocated to Bern in 1957, then moved to Seneca in 1960. The couple celebrated 56 years of marriage before Ray’s death on February 16, 2006.

Rita worked at a café in Sabetha from 1948 to 1950; she then cleaned homes in the Sabetha / Bern communities from 1957 to 1960. After moving to Seneca, she worked at Paramount Cleaners, Evelyn’s Café, Northside Café and for the Luckeroth Veterinary Clinic.

Rita was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and St. Ann’s Altar Society in Seneca. She enjoyed cooking and handiwork. She was active in the VFW Auxiliary and took pleasure in volunteering at the VA Hospital. She also volunteered at Sts. Peter & Paul Mission Center, in addition to making rosaries.

Survivors are three daughters, Rose (Bill) Brinker of Shawnee, KS, Ruby Corman of Greeley, CO and Ruth (Richard) Haen of Dittmer, MO; two brothers, Donald Hughes of Sabetha and Patrick (Mary Jo) Hughes of Lee’s Summit, MO; three sisters, Helen Schwindamann and Cathy Utecht, both of Marysville, and Mary Ann Baker of Sabetha; three grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchildren.

Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Wednesday, February 8, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 11 AM Thursday, February 9, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the Seneca City Cemetery.

Memorials may be given in Rita’s memory for the Sts. Peter & Paul Mission Center.