Rita Schwartz, 88, 4358 Lock Two Road, New Bremen, died at 9:22 a.m. Aug. 15, 2009, at the Mercer County Community Hospital, Coldwater.

She was born Jan. 18, 1921 in Ft. Recovery to George and Rose Homan Dues. On Oct. 26, 1946, she married Louis Schwartz who survives.

Other survivors are her children Rosie (Mike) Shelby, St. Marys, Dale (Sandy) Schwartz, New Bremen, Carl (Diane) Schwartz, New Bremen, Werner "Bern" (Phyllis) Schwartz, St. Marys, Karen (John) Brandewie, Fort Loramie, and Mark (Joan) Schwartz, New Bremen; two sisters, Wilma Heitkamp and Esther (Leo) Schwartz, both of Coldwater; four sisters-in-law, Mildred Dues, Coldwater, Martha Dues, Fort Recovery, Dorothy Kahlig, Coldwater, and Louise Schwartz, St. Marys; 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Deceased are her siblings Raymond, Norbert, Lawrence, Cletus, and Clem Dues, Veronica Heitkamp and Anna Lochtefeld.

She was a homemaker and member of the Church of the Holy Redeemer, New Bremen and its St. Ann Altar Sodality. She had worked at the former Buckeye Overall Factory, Coldwater, and worked as cafeteria staff at the New Bremen Schools.

Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church, the Rev. Thomas Mannebach officiating. Burial is in the German Protestant Cemetery, New Bremen.

Calling is 3-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen and on Wednesday from 9:20 until 10 A.M. at the church, at which time the rosary will be prayed.