Rita Ann Wilson's Obituary
Rita Ann Wilson, age 76, passed away on December 10, 2020. She was born on October 23, 1944, to Andrew and Martha (Gibson) Folenga in Chicago, IL. Rita proudly served her country in the United States Air Force. After her time in the service, she started her family and invested her time in Catholic ministries and outreach. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America and Our Lady of Grace Women’s Guild. On August 29, 1964, she married the love of her life, John B. Wilson, and they spent 54 years together until his passing in April of 2019.
She is survived by her sons, John B. (Sheila) Wilson II of Fruitport, MI, Andrew (Carri) Wilson of Rockwall, TX, Michael (Tamara) Wilson of Grand Ledge, MI; grandchildren, Alyssia Kline, Clarisse (Andres) Reynoso-Mazoy, Abigail (Matthew) Staffelbach, Erica (Ben) Schultz, Madeline (Leo) Brasuel, Jacqueline (Jeff) Reese, Michael Wilson; three step grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; sisters, Barbara Stephan, of St. Cloud, FL, Martha Bilger, of Muskegon, MI, and Mary (Ken) Boyd of Mesa, AZ. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John B. Wilson; brothers, Ronald Folenga, Doug Folenga, Joseph Folenga; and brother-in-law, Alfred Bilger.
A Funeral Mass for Rita will take place on Friday, August 13, 2021, at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church (451 S. Getty St.) at 2:00 PM. Inurnment and Military Honors will take place at St. Mary's Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to The Sytsema Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 737 Apple Ave., Muskegon, MI 49442. For a more lasting memory, donations in Rita’s name can be made out to the One At A Time Ministry of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish. Feel free to sign the family’s online guestbook and share a memory at www.sytsemafh.com.
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