Rita Ann Culley

Rita Ann (Ream) Culley joined our Heavenly Father on Friday, July 8, 2022. She was a loving wife to her late husband Emmett, and a devoted and loving mother and grandmother. We will miss her gentle heart and her unwavering acceptance and compassion for others. Her words were soft, humor light and love powerful. Her greatest source of pride was her children and she led them with determination, understanding, strength and love - a legacy that will live on for generations. Rita was born June 23, 1931. She was the daughter of Victor Ream and Theresa (McGuire). She graduated from St Mary High School and was a lifelong member of St Mary Parish. She spent 25 years in customer service but felt her true calling was to be a mother.

Along with her parents, Rita is preceded in death by her loving husband of 53 years, Francis Emmett Culley, great-grandchildren; Isabella JoAnn Santos and Alivia Catherine Laird, and siblings; Richard Ream, Perry Ream, and Dorothy Colbert. Rita is survived by her loving children; Christopher (Candace) Culley, Constance (Robert) Stewart, Catherine (Ronald) Roseberry, Curt Culley, Carey (Lucia) Culley, Carol (Jon) Umstead, and Colleen (Todd) Tracy, grandchildren; Sean, Lauren, Meagan, Amy, Erin, Nathan, Culley, Sara, Zachary, Allison, Korinne, Jensen, Maura, Audrey, Derrik, Angela, Andrew, Amanda, Abigail, Benjamin, Jacob, Jennifer, and Samantha, 28 great-grandchildren, a special friend, Mary Ann Sine, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, July 18th, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Mary Catholic Church, Urbana with Father Greg Konerman presiding. A Celebration of Life- Visitation will also be held on July 18th at the Simon Kenton Inn, 4690 Urbana Road, Springfield, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. All are welcome. In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Oncology Department at Nationwide Childrens or the Isabella Santos Foundation in Rita's honor. Her love of life, devotion to family, and abiding faith will live on through her children, grandchildren and all those who knew her. We miss her dearly.

Arrangements in the care of the Walter and Lewis Funeral Home, Urbana. Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.walterfunerals.com.