Rita Jeanette Polek

She was born Rita Jeanette Owczarzack in Chicago, Illinois, on February 16, 1928, to Vincent “Leo” and Catherine (Sobon) Owczarzack. She grew up just outside the city in the little village of River Grove, with her younger siblings, Norbert and Christine.

Rita graduated from Proviso High School in nearby Maywood, in 1948. She had suffered from several childhood diseases that were common for that era and delayed her education. At the age of 16 and near death, a new drug called penicillin, specially obtained from the Army, saved Rita’s life. These trials did not cause her bitterness or regret, and were an inspiration for some of her children to join the medical profession.

As a young adult, she worked in Chicago operating a complex, electro-mechanical calculator called a comptometer. She met her future husband, Chester, in 1948, at a party that neither had wanted to attend, and they were married on July 2, 1950.

In October 1953, along with her sister, Rita and Chester moved to Los Angeles, travelling at a leisurely pace and sightseeing along the “Mother Road,” Route 66. A highlight of their trip was a mule ride to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. They arrived in Los Angeles with no jobs and $50 between them.

They moved to Temple City, California in 1956, where they raised four children. Rita later went to work for the Los Angeles County Tax Assessor Office, retiring in 1985, after 27 years of service.

She was active in all of her childrens’ activities, which are too numerous to mention.

A woman of unshakable faith, she was a member of St. Luke Catholic Church for 57 years. Rita had a lovely voice and was a member St. Luke’s Lightshine Choir, and the Sweet Adelines.

She enjoyed travel, gardening and reading. Her book collection could start a library.

The family travelled every summer; alternating between cross-country drives to Chicago to visit family and friends, and camping through out the western US and Canada. Rita would always sew a travel dress for herself and shirts for Chester and the boys, all out of the same material and usually a very distinctive pattern. Wherever they arrived, the world knew the Poleks were a family.

In retirement, Rita and Chester traveled extensively, visiting their children (now scattered over the country), Europe, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean.

She was considered a second mother to many of her childrens’ friends. It is a testament of their love, that at Rita and Chester’s 50th and 60th wedding anniversary parties, these friends comprised a large portion of the guests.

She is survived by Chester, the love of her life and husband of nearly 63 years; her four children Wayne (Rita) Polek, Victor (Julie) Polek, Vincent (MaryKatherine) Polek and Rita Christine (Phillip) Takenaga; grandchildren Kenny, Christine, Scott, Elizabeth, James, Kai and Malia; great-grandchildren Meghan, Jessica, Emily and Sean; her best friend and devoted sister Christine Vossbrink; nieces Diane Caminata and Jeanne Schwalbe; nephews Drew and Eric Vossbrink, and Mark Owczarzack. She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Norbert, brother-in-law Larry Vossbrink and sister-in-law Lucille Owczarzack.