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RITA SONNEFELD

Rita M. Sonnefeld, 89, resident of Wheeling died Wednesday, August 15, 2018 at Liza’s Place. She was born in Wheeling on December 21, 1928, daughter of the late Peter and Nothburga Knorr Yochum.

She was a retired secretary with the former Hazel-Atlas Glass Company, and a retired bookkeeper with the former A. J. Sonnefeld Plumbing, Inc.

Rita was a very active member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church, where she was the head of the RCIA for 20 years, the 1st woman lector, Eucharistic minister, Ladies Guild member, taught the 3rd grade prep class, and was involved with the PTG for many years. She volunteered at Catholic Charities, and even fostered a child for 7 months. She was also involved with the Cursillo Movement.

In addition to her parents, Rita was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas J. Sonnefeld to whom she married on September 10, 1949; her son, Thomas Jude Sonnefeld; 1 brother, Leo Yochum; 1 sister, Bertha Ogden.

Rita is survived by her 3 daughters, Diana Pierce (Bob), Judy Ball (Bill), and Paula Fielden (Steve); 5 sons, Greg Sonnefeld (Pam), Mike Sonnefeld (Colleen), David Sonnefeld (Terri), Alan Sonnefeld (Joyce), and Dr. Christian Sonnefeld (Marianne); 1 brother, Paul Yochum (June); 1 brother-in-law, Donald Klug; 1 sister-in-law, Janie Yochum; 19 grandchildren, Natalie Heller (Chris), Casey Ball (Kim), Aaron Sonnefeld (Lyndsey), Nicole Sonnefeld, Michael, Lauren, Amy, and Thad Sonnefeld, Zachary, Luke, and Alyssa Sonnefeld, Rita and Sebastian Fielden, Abby, Meagan, and Ben Sonnefeld, Linden, Ella, and Brynn Sonnefeld; 6 great-grandchildren, Sophia, Maddox, and Emerson Heller, Micaiah and Jude Sonnefeld, Morgan Sonnefeld; multiple nieces and nephews.

It is very hard to sum up a person’s entire life in a few paragraphs. Rita was a great wife, mother, grandmother,and great-grandmother to her immediate and extended family. She was even a great mother-in-law as attested to by her sons-in-law and daughters-in-law. She was a kind, caring, loving, and compassionate person who didn’t have a mean bone in her body.

Rita was the rock that the Sonnefeld family was built upon. Because of her strong loving influence the Sonnefeld family is a tight knit family even though the brothers and sisters are spread out all over the country. That is her true and lasting legacy.

Rita was a devout catholic with a strong faith in God. She was rewarded for that faith, by God taking her to heaven on August 15th, the Feast of the Assumption.

She will be sadly missed by all who knew her and fondly remembered and celebrated especially at every future Sonnefeld family reunion.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to all those who cared for our mother at Wheeling Hospital, the skilled care at Good Shepherd, home, and Liza’s Place.

Friends will be received at Kepner Funeral Home, Burke Chapel, 2101 Warwood Avenue, Wheeling, WV, (304-277-2722) on Sunday, August 19, 2018 from 1 to 7 p.m., with a vigil service at 6:30 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, August 20, 2018 at 11 am at Corpus Christi Catholic Church with Msgr. Eugene S. Ostrowski and Father Larry Dorsch as concelebrants.

Interment to follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 1516 Warwood Avenue, Wheeling.