It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of our beloved mother and grandmother, Rita J. Hoey (Boyce), who left us on June 1, 2024, at the age of 81. Beloved wife of Robert.  Loving mother of Jeffrey (Michelle), Anastasia (Louis) Gentz, Rebecca, Kerry, and Timothy. Proud grandmother of Tyler, Makayla, Brianna, Hunter, Ericanna, Brendan, and Bennett.  Dear sister of Monica, Julie, Lynn, Phyllis, and Mike.  Further survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews, other relatives, and friends.  Rita is proceeded in death by her husband, siblings Sue, Mary, Bonnie, Jack, and Dan.

 

Surrounded by her loving family and friends in her final moments, she was a woman of immense humor and wisdom, deep caring and generosity, she cherished every moment spent with her loved ones. She loved her children and her seven grandchildren, but also their friends, the children at the schools she worked in, the neighborhood children, and more. Her passion for helping others was one of her defining characteristics. Her door was always open: to our friends, the grandchildren’s friends, neighbors, and more. There are endless stories about her willingness to lend a hand, whether it was to feed neighborhood children, give rides to those in need, volunteer at food banks and shelters, provide a safe shoulder to lean on for those in crisis.  All without questions or expectations.  

 

Her unwavering spirit for sports of all kinds and levels throughout her entire life will forever be remembered. She loved sports so much that as a student she was named as the Captain of the Dodgerettes usher corps for the Green Bay Dodgers baseball team and used her money to buy season tickets to the Green Bay Packers, something she was extremely proud of. She loved watching home teams, especially her beloved Badgers.  All of her children were involved in sports, and despite the sheer number of priorities, she was always in the stands or sidelines to watch. A legacy that continued with her grandchildren.  You could always count on Rita to be your biggest cheerleader.

 

She also had a gift for numbers, something that started when she was young and kept baseball scores while listening to games on the radio. The radio was a constant in the home, Rita had her children use it while brushing our teeth to make sure we brushed for two songs. Her dedication to her ethics and morals were another constant in her life.  She cared deeply about her community and the larger world, volunteering and donating to a number of causes, especially those involving children.  You could find her most Sundays at St. Catherine’s of Alexandria Catholic Church, where her children and grandchildren were baptized. Rita sent all her children to Milwaukee area Catholic schools, followed by most of her grandchildren as well. She was a lifelong Democrat and was proud to have worked on both Kennedys’ campaigns. Rita enjoyed reading the newspaper and keeping up with current events, she was always able to speak well about issues in the community.

 

Despite dementia eventually taking all that from her, her personality was still there.  She loved to listen to music, dance, walk, be around other people, pet all the family dogs, eat her favorite foods, and, of course, laundry.  She would still refold a piece of clothing that wasn’t perfect. She was loved by many who will continue to honor her legacy by living their lives to the fullest with kindness and compassion.