Rita Bernice Vonasek of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota passed away on Tuesday evening, February 13, 2024, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s, surrounded by her loving family at the age of 76. She was born on July 20, 1947 in Cloquet, Minnesota where she grew up, and graduated from Cloquet Sr. High School.
She worked several different jobs throughout her life, including working for school district 279. She also had a job as a proofreader for a printing company that her son, Shawn, also worked at with her. Her favorite job, besides being a wonderful loving mother, was at a second hand kids clothing store, Kids Rack, where she got to spoil her granddaughter, Savannah, with anything she ever wanted from clothes to toys.
Rita loved being with her husband, Paul, family and friends, and would often be found traveling around vacationing in South Padre Island, Texas, or Bullhead City, Arizona, or attending a Dwight Yoakam concert. Rita loved her many pets over her lifetime, namely her dog, Jersey, who lives at home still with dad. At the nursing home she would often be seen holding a stuffed dog which she also named Jersey.
Rita was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore and Clara Hubbell; brothers, Van, Glen, and Les; and sisters, Pauline "Par" and Lois.
Rita is survived by her husband, Paul Vonasek, of 57 years; her daughter, Dawn “Shelly” Vonasek (Bruce and his daughter Krista); her son, Shawn (Patty) Vonasek; granddaughter, Savannah (Andrew) Vonasek; great-granddaughter, Hazel Grace; great-grandson, Bentley; sisters, Cookie (Jim) Jaakola and Maralene Carlson; brothers, Louie (Sharyn) Hubbell and Lee Hubbell; a half brother Ray Tuenge; and many, many cousins and friends.
The family would like to thank The Estates at Excelsior, Moments Hospice, and The Neptune Society, for the care and compassion they showed our beloved Rita in her final days.