Sr. Rita Schafer, CSJ, of Nazareth, age 87, died on October 24, 2025.
She was born July 5, 1938, in Westphalia, Michigan, to Otto and Eleanor (Kolp) Schafer, and was a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph.
Sr. Rita was preceded in death by her parents, and her sister, Kathleen LaViolette. She is survived by her sisters Martha Baldwin and Mary Peckins, and her brothers Paul (Eva) Schafer and Alvin Schafer.
A visitation will be held at 4 p.m. at Holy Family Chapel on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. Funeral service and Mass will take place and be live-streamed (link at BetzlerLifeStory.com) on Monday, Nov. 2, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Holy Family Chapel.
Burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Nazareth, Michigan. Memorials may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph.
Obituaries for clergy and religious who have lived or served in the Archdiocese of Detroit may be emailed to [email protected]. Obituaries are printed as they are submitted, but may be edited for grammar and style. Detroit Catholic reserves the right to refuse or edit any submissions.
