Rita A. Petersen, 79, of Dubuque passed away Monday, July 23, 2018 at Mercy Medical Center.

Services will be at 5:00 p.m. Thursday, July 26, 2018 at Hoffmann Schneider and Kitchen Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 3860 Asbury Road, with Deacon Paul Peckosh officiating. Friends may greet the family from 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.

Rita was born May 27, 1939 in Merrill, WI to D.B. and Margaret (Rivard) Cardinal. She graduated from Rock Island Alleman High School in June 1957. She met the love of her life, Gerald R. Petersen, and they married September 19, 1959. He preceded her in death.

She trained as an X-Ray Technician, and then later worked at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Rock Island, IL. Later she was a stay at home mother to their four children.

Rita loved to go out to eat, do circle word puzzles, and enjoyed movies and reality TV; but most of all, Rita’s family was everything to her. She especially loved it when the whole family was together for holidays and special events.

She was a long time member of St. Raphael Cathedral.

She is survived by her 4 children, Teresa Petersen, Mary (Jeff) Melssen, both of Dubuque, Jim (Jenn) Petersen, of Bettendorf, IA, and John (Stephanie Schoeller) Petersen, of Ames, IA; four grandchildren, Mallory Petersen and Marqui Petersen both of Iowa City, Shelby Melssen and Jacob Melssen, both of Dubuque.

She was also preceded in death by her parents.

The family wishes to thank the Doctors, Nurses, and Staff at Mercy Medical Center Cardiovascular Unit.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dubuque Regional Humane Society.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hskfh.com.