Sister Rita M. Cain, OSB

ROCK ISLAND – Sister Rita M. Cain, OSB, who ministered as a teacher and in family therapy, died on June 2, 2022, at St. Mary Monastery. In accordance with her wishes, her body has been donated for scientific study.

A Christian Wake Service, without visitation, took place on the evening of June 13. A Memorial Mass is planned for 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 14, at St. Mary Monastery. Both were to be livestreamed through the Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery Facebook page.

Inurnment will be at a later date at Calvary Cemetery, Rock Island.

The daughter of Joseph and Julia (Donovan) Cain, Sister Rita was born Aug. 20, 1932, in Ivesdale. She attended Casey Public School in Colfax Township and St. Joseph Secondary School in Ivesdale, and graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in Nauvoo.

She received a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and a master’s degree in religious studies from St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota. She also did post-graduate studies at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa.

Sister Rita entered the Benedictine community on Aug. 15, 1950, and made her profession as a Benedictine Sister on Aug. 22, 1952. Her final profession came on Aug. 24, 1955.

Sister Rita taught at St. Thomas More in Munster, Indiana, and in the Diocese of Peoria at St. Mary in Moline, St. John the Baptist in Clinton, and St. Boniface in Peoria from 1950 to 1970. She served as director of religious education at St. John Vianney in Davenport, Iowa, for three years and was director of adult education for the Diocese of Davenport, Iowa, for one year.

From 1975 to 1998, she worked with the Iowa Department of Human Services in the area of family therapy.

After retiring to St. Mary Monastery, Sister Rita has assisted her community in the archives, as a transportation driver, and with mailings. Most recently she had been engaged in a ministry of prayer.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers John Cain, Paul Cain, and Carroll Cain; and sisters Mae Loomis, Myrtle Strickland, Catherine Krupa, Joan Marzullo, Regina Schumacher, and Patricia Jackson. Sister Rita is survived by her Benedictine Sisters; sisters Mary Pat (Imelda) Cain and Sheila Cain Butler; brother-in-law Don Butler; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to St. Mary Monastery, 2200 88th Ave. West, Rock Island, IL 61201.