Rita Ruth Redmond was born on September 9, 1930, in Fort Scott, Kan., the only child of William Alphonsus and Josephine Therese Gees Redmond. Rita’s baptism took place on October 12 at St. Patrick Church in Walnut, Kan. Joseph E. Dave and Dorothy Gees were her godparents. She was confirmed when she was 9 in St. Patrick Church, Walnut, and chose Joanna as her confirmation name. The family lived on a farm in southeast Kansas. Because of a former surgery Josephine had, the doctor doubted that the baby she was carrying would live. Even before Rita was born, she was consecrated to Our Lady of Lourdes, a title that would prove to be a good omen for her in later life. Rita’s mother suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and became bedfast when Rita was 6. She and her dad took care of her until she died in 1958. Thus was born in Rita a special passion of caring for the disabled.
Because her parents wanted a quality Catholic education for Rita, they made arrangements to sell the farm and move to Paola, Kan., where her father would work for the Ursuline Sisters and Rita would attend Ursuline Academy. They were housed in rooms on the lower level of the Motherhouse. Rita remarked, “It must be the right move.” The first thing she saw as they approached Ursuline was a large sign: Ursuline Convent of Our Lady of Lourdes. Rita graduated from Ursuline Academy in 1947; entered the Ursuline community in Paola, April 24, 1949; in August received the habit and the name Sister De Lourdes (in 1969, she returned to her baptismal name, Rita); made first vows, August 21,1951; and final vows, August 21, 1954.
Sister’s higher education consisted of an AB degree from St. Teresa College, Kansas City, Mo., in 1959; and a master of librarianship degree from Emporia State University, Emporia, Kan., in 1969. Her first teaching assignment was in St. Patrick Elementary School (now Holy Trinity) in Paola so she could continue helping her father care for her mother.
After her mother died in 1958, Sister taught Latin and English at Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park, Kansas City, Kan. She was an unusually gifted teacher. She reached out in love and friendship, bringing to fruition the good in each student. Archival records hold numerous testimonies of Sister’s far-reaching influence, empowering students to recognize their talents and instilling in them the self confidence to reach their potential.
After nine years at Bishop Miege and one year at Sacred Heart School in Bonner Springs, Sister Rita was assigned to Lakemary Center, as coordinator of educational materials, where she would spend the rest of her years in education — 1969-1995— ministering to children and adults with mental/physical disabilities. Lakemary’s logo pictures a child reaching for a star with a heart in its center. Everybody at Lakemary reaches to become the best they can be; motivated by, enabled by and supported by love. Sister Rita’s heartbeat carried that rhythm of love. She often wore a sweatshirt with the script, “I love Lakemary Kids.” She admitted that her life was enriched by students, child or adult, at Lakemary. Their simple love and trust, their willingness to try and try again, and their joy inspired her deeply.
During her position at Lakemary, Sister Rita also worked for the Eastern Kansas Special Education Cooperative in their Instructional Materials Center. She continued that work until 2001 when she retired to the Motherhouse in Paola and became involved in community ministry, taking care of the dining room and using her writing skills to prepare reflections and intercessions. After the 2008 merger with the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph, she moved to Saint Joseph Villa at Maple Mount to begin participating in the Powerhouse of Prayer until her peaceful death the evening of September 3, 2012.
Following the Mass of Resurrection on September 6, Sister Rita’s remains were carried in solemn procession to the Mount Saint Joseph Cemetery for burial.