Born April 25, 1921 to Michael and Marie Cooley, Rita was raised on her family's farm with her ten siblings in Fowler, Indiana.
In 1943, after graduating from St. Elizabeth's Nursing School, Rita joined the Army Nurse Corps as a First Lieutenant providing medical care and rehabilitation services to soldiers returning home from WWII.
Rita married Mark E. Lundgren in 1955 and together raised seven children: Pamolyn, Sandra, Georgene, Judith, Ralph, Katherine, and Mark. After living in Libya, where Mark was stationed in the Air Force and Rita worked at the VA Hospital, they returned to their home in Salt Lake City in 1966, where they lived for the rest of their lives.
Rita dedicated her life to her family, helping others as a lifelong nurse and as an active member in her community and church. She has touched many lives with her kindness, selflessness, and generosity.
The most important legacy Rita leaves to this world is her unmatched sense of humor, her infectious laugh and smile and her bright, young spirit she shared with each person that has crossed her path throughout her beautiful, love-filled ninety-seven years of life.
Rita joins her husband; parents; lifelong friend, Uncle Earl; and nine of her siblings in Heaven. Those left to cherish Rita's life and memories are her seven children, seventeen grandchildren, twenty-two great-grandchildren, and youngest sister.
Memorial services will be held on Friday, February 8, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. in St. Vincent de Paul Parish, 1375 East Spring Lane (5000 South), Holladay.
Interment will be in the Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery.
Published in the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News from February 5 to February 6, 2019.
Born April 25, 1921 to Michael and Marie Cooley, Rita was raised on her family's farm with her ten siblings in Fowler, Indiana.
In 1943, after graduating from St. Elizabeth's Nursing School, Rita joined the Army Nurse Corps as a First Lieutenant providing medical care and rehabilitation services to soldiers returning home from WWII.
Rita married Mark E. Lundgren in 1955 and together raised seven children: Pamolyn, Sandra, Georgene, Judith, Ralph, Katherine, and Mark. After living in Libya, where Mark was stationed in the Air Force and Rita worked at the VA Hospital, they returned to their home in Salt Lake City in 1966, where they lived for the rest of their lives.
Rita dedicated her life to her family, helping others as a lifelong nurse and as an active member in her community and church. She has touched many lives with her kindness, selflessness, and generosity.
The most important legacy Rita leaves to this world is her unmatched sense of humor, her infectious laugh and smile and her bright, young spirit she shared with each person that has crossed her path throughout her beautiful, love-filled ninety-seven years of life.
Rita joins her husband; parents; lifelong friend, Uncle Earl; and nine of her siblings in Heaven. Those left to cherish Rita's life and memories are her seven children, seventeen grandchildren, twenty-two great-grandchildren, and youngest sister.
Memorial services will be held on Friday, February 8, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. in St. Vincent de Paul Parish, 1375 East Spring Lane (5000 South), Holladay.
Interment will be in the Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery.
Published in the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News from February 5 to February 6, 2019.
Family Members
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Norbert Irvin Cooley
1914–1993
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Bernard Charles Cooley
1915–1979
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Aletha Marie Cooley Reifel
1917–1991
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Helen Marjorie Cooley Budreau
1918–2001
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Kenneth Eugene "Kenny" Cooley
1919–2008
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David Darwin Cooley
1922–2010
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Rosemary Cooley Budreau
1924–2013
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Paul Joseph Cooley
1927–2011
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Dr Ruthann Cooley Wolfe
1928–2018
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Infant Son Cooley
1934–1934
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Infant Son Cooley
1936–1936
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