Rita Therese Bazil

Rita Therese Bazil, born on September 12, 1931, in Centuria, Wisconsin, peacefully passed away on March 1, 2024. She was the beloved daughter of Forest and Gertrude (Rogers) Green. Rita married William Joseph “Joe” Bazil on November 28, 1953, at the St. Therese Chapel in Centuria, Wisconsin. Together, they raised their family in Bloomington, Minnesota, Southfield, Michigan, and Rockford, Illinois. In 2011, Rita and Joe moved to Tyler, Texas, where they resided in a home designed and built with love by their sons, Paul and John. The home was conveniently located next door to Paul, allowing him and his family to tenderly care for both Joe and Rita in their later years. The simple pleasures of outdoor activities like walking, biking and tending to her roses were sources of joy for Rita. She cherished caring for birds, could confidently identify various species and treated them with homemade concoctions, suet cakes and wild bird seed. An especially favorite pastime of Rita’s was a game of cards. Her favorites were an exciting and surely boisterous game of Hearts or Cribbage. Rita was known for her chocolate chip cookies that she served to family and friends, while never passing up the opportunity to share her famous recipe. Rita found solace in reading the Psalms and enjoying her favorite music by Perry Como and The Brothers Four. Remembered for her infectious laughter and radiant smile, Rita leaves behind a legacy of faith and love. She is survived by five children, Anne Bazil, of Beloit, Wisc., Paul (Cyndi) Bazil, of Tyler, Texas, John (Lisa) Bazil, of Dallas, Texas, Mary (Mark) Olson, of Nashotah, Wisc., and Susan Matson, of Waukesha, Wisc., daughter-in-law, Laurie Kaye (Silfies) Bazil, of Loudon, Tenn.; 15 inspiring grandchildren; 24 darling great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Rita was preceded in death by her dear husband, Joseph Bazil; her beloved sons Mark and William Bazil; her treasured grandsons Bracy Bazil and Mitchell Olson; her dear granddaughter Alicia (Michael) Lowe; her loving sisters, Beatrice Armando, Martha Ferrante and Mary Gaffney; and her dear brother, Paul Green. To honor Rita's memory, two services will be held. The first service is a Mass on Saturday, March 16 at 1 p.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church (Lindale, Texas). A graveside service will follow at 2 p.m. at New Harmony Cemetery (Tyler, Texas). Additionally a Celebration of Life Service is planned on Saturday, July 6 at Oakwood Church (Hartland, Wisconsin). The specific service time is pending. An afternoon on Moose Lake will follow the service, a favorite summer destination of Rita’s. The family expresses their sincere appreciation for Rita’s loving caregivers over the years, the staff at Colonial Lindale Nursing & Rehabilitation (Lindale, Texas), and Heart to Heart Hospice (Tyler, Texas). The family also encourages support for caregivers through resources provided by the Alzheimer's Foundation of America and the upcoming documentary "Little Empty Boxes" by Max Lugavere, chronicling the journey of his mother battling a form of dementia. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America or Samaritan’s Purse, a cause close to Rita’s heart.

Rita Therese Bazil

September 12, 1931 - March 1, 2024