Rita M. Lundeen, age 79, a resident of St. Charles, IL, passed away on Friday, July 4, 2025.  She was born May 28, 1946 in Jefferson, Kentucky to Elmer & Helen McDaniels.

Rita grew up in Lombard along with her 8 siblings. After High School she worked at The Golden Point diner where she met Don, her future husband. Together they would raise 6 children of their own in Villa Park, IL. Rita was actively involved in her church volunteering to help with many events and functions.  She loved to be creative and was very detail oriented. She decorated for several weddings, assembling every bridal bouquet by hand. The door to her home was always open and she loved to invite anyone and everyone over for holidays and various celebrations - always cooking the extra potato just in case someone else showed up. She loved being in the garden and voluntarily tended to the gardens at her church for several years. Rita loved the Word of God and longed to see it spread across the world. She supported various missions and ministries worldwide, digging wells, donating vehicles, giving Bibles, and even went on a couple short term missions trips herself to help build homes and provide support to families in need. Rita had a generous heart, always ready to give when a need presented itself. She believed in prayer and stood with so many, lovingly caring and praying and supporting others who were going through hard things. She would send encouraging notes and gifts, always expressing what was in the Lord's heart for that person. She greatly adored her grandchildren and would do anything for them. She loved to kiss them and tell them they tasted like strawberries or something sweet. Her phone is full of videos and pictures she would take of them at every opportunity. She was always amazed at the gifts and talents that they have and how they were growing.

She is survived by her husband of 60 years Don; her children Donald, Jr., Daniel, Tamara (Gary) McPherson, Mary, Joseph & Timothy (Jennifer) Lundeen; her five grandchildren: Luke & Lauren Lundeen; Benjamin & Elizabeth McPherson; and Gracelynn Lundeen; her sisters Louise McDaniels & Paula (Al) Weisman. Also survived by many nieces & nephews.

She was preceded in death by her siblings Josephine, Delores, Lawrence, Mary Alice, Victoria & Lydia.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, July 10, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton, IL 60187. A memorial service will be held at Oak Brook Community Church, 3100 Midwest Rd, Oak Brook, IL 60523, on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be private at Chapel Hill Gardens West in Oakbrook Terrace, IL.

Memorial gifts may be directed to:

Outreach

373 S. Schmale Rd., Carol Stream, IL 60188

Phone: (630) 682–1910

https://weareoutreach.org/give/

Oasis of Hope - Latin America

Nick & Zulmy Gellis - El Valle, Panama

https://www.oasislatinamerica.com/donate