Rita Claire Vaden, 101, of Festus died Aug. 5, 2023, at Crystal Oaks Rehabilitation in Festus. Ms. Vaden was a retired accountant and bookkeeper for St. Louis Land Clearing Housing and had worked at Luigis Restaurant and as a cook at the rectory at St. Joseph Parish in Manchester. She was a member of Our Lady Catholic Church in Festus, where she was a member of the Young at Heart group and volunteered in the office, school and cafeteria. She was born Jan. 11, 1921, in St. Louis, the daughter of the late Marie (Lee) and Bert E. Cook.
She is survived by three sons: Tom (Gudelia) Vaden of Riverside, Calif., Dennis (the late Kathy) Vaden of Sunrise, Fla., and Carl (Genevieve) Vaden of Oceanside, Calif.; a daughter: Mary (the late Thomas) Nicholson of Festus; 11 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson. She was preceded in death by a son: Patrick Vaden; two sisters; and one brother.
Visitation is scheduled from 9 a.m. until a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11, at Our Lady Catholic Church, 1550 St. Mary’s Lane in Festus, officiated by Father Michael Boehm. Burial is in the Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to Our Lady Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home in Festus.