Obituary of Rita Marie Mealey (Bilderback)

Rita Marie Mealey (Bilderback), age 77 of St Paul, passed away on Wednesday, May 24, 2017. She was born to the late Ferdinand Schmitt and Mary Sternal Schmitt on March 5, 1940 in Duluth, Minnesota. 

Rita graduated from Saint Anthony’s High School in Duluth, Minnesota. She was an active member in the community and served as a trustee at the Mounds Park United Methodist Church and also taught at the Sunday school. She was a long time member of St. John’s Catholic Church until it’s closing in 2013.

Family and friends were Rita’s passion and delight. She knew everyone in her neighborhood.  She did her daily walks with her beloved dog Missy and made sure she spoke to everyone she saw.

She loved gardening and spent countless hours tending to her vegetable and flower beds. She loved to bowl and dance. She and her late husband Hubert “Sonny” learned the fine art of Line Dancing and spent many enjoyable hours dancing with friends. They were also active members of American Legion Arcade-Phalen Post 577.

Rita especially loved her animals and had many animals over the course of her lifetime. Each was her faithful companion and her source of joy.   

Rita is survived by her daughters, Ann (Erik) Zetterstrom, Betty (Bryan) Foy; grandchildren, Brian McDonald, William, Christopher and Sarah Foy and Britta Zetterstrom; great grandchildren, Amelia and Olivia McDonald; her brother, Robert Schmitt; and her sister Patricia Standardi. She also leaves behind many loving friends.

Rita’s funeral will take place 11:00 A.M Thursday, June 1, 2017 at Mounds Park United Methodist Church, St. Paul,  followed by graveside at Fort Snelling. Arrangements were provided by Anderson Funeral Home and Mounds Park United Methodist Church.