Grace Edith Rief SLW

Sister Grace Rief, SLW, 94, of Chicago was born November 11, 1924 in Chaska, MN to Frank and Leonora (nee Koehnen) Rief, the 6th of 13 children and went to God on March 14, 2019. She was a Sister of the Living Word for 44 years, and previously a member of the Sisters of Christian Charity. Her siblings are all deceased: Chester (late Lucille) Rief, Blanche (late Gordon) Saull, Dale (late Jane) Rief, Constance (late Bob) Bleincher, Collins (late Ardis) Rief, Frank (Joan) Rief, Lois (late Don) Schwonke, John (late Sue) Rief and Roger (Laura) Rief. Twin brothers, Walter and Wallace, and another brother, Ruben, all died in infancy. She leaves behind 32 nieces and nephews and many great-nieces and nephews.

She was a devoted elementary teacher for just short of 50 years, and continued as a tutor and ESL teacher for another 5 years. She taught in the states of Missouri, Louisiana, Michigan, and Illinois, yet taught most of her years in the Chicago area. Grace spent the last 15 years at Resurrection Life Center, in Chicago. She will be missed by her Sisters in community who will miss her sweet smile, delightful laughter and daily prayer for all of us. Memorial Visitation will be Monday, March 18, 2019 from 9:00 AM until the time of the Memorial Mass at 10:00 AM at St. Edna Church, 2525 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Sisters of the Living Word, 800 N. Fernandez Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL 60004 appreciated.