Rita Lawyer's Obituary
Rita C. Lawyer (Yunker), 88 of Decatur left this world on Friday, December 30, 2022 at Imboden Creek Living Center in Decatur.
Rita was born September 2, 1934 in Decatur, the daughter of Lawrence C. and Frances J. (Knoblock) Yunker. She graduated from St. Teresa Catholic High School in 1952 and married William R. (Bill) Lawyer in August, 1953.
Rita loved music and the arts and encouraged her children to pursue their artistic and educational interests. She loved to sing, and in the last week of her life was humming along to ‘Meet Me in St. Louis’, a favorite. She and her husband were longtime patrons of the Decatur Symphony Orchestra Guild. They also enjoyed attending various performances and arts events throughout Central Illinois. Rita loved being outdoors and simple pleasures such as sunny days, the smell of flowers, and in her later years, sitting on the patio or by the pond and enjoying nature. Throughout her life, Rita always enjoyed shopping and was quite skilled at it. She was a feisty, empathetic, generous, and determined soul who loved life and bravely navigated widowhood after her beloved lifelong partner Bill died in 2016. Her strength is an inspiration. She had a strong faith, quick wit, loved to laugh, and made her caregivers and son laugh frequently. She will be dearly missed.
Rita is survived by daughter Colleen M. Yundt of Bloomington, sons Lawrence W. Lawyer of St. Paul, Minnesota, Andrew P. Lawyer of San Francisco, California and Christopher H. Lawyer of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, and grandchildren Eva (Yundt) Parenti, Hayden and Emma Lawyer, and great grandson Dominic Parenti.
Her husband, parents, and sisters Mary F. Banning, Marjorie A. Galloway and J. Laurice Sheehy preceded her in death.
Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 13, 2023 at St. James Catholic Church, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Point Pleasant Cemetery. Memorials should be directed to the American Diabetes Association.
Condolences may be sent to Rita’s family at www.moranandgeobel.com
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