ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Sister Rita M. Cain, OSB, 89, died June 2 at St. Mary Monastery.
Rita Cain was born Aug. 20, 1932, in Ivesdale, Illinois, a daughter of Joseph and Julia Donovan Cain. She attended Casey Public School Colfax Township, St. Joseph Secondary School-Ivesdale, and graduated from St. Mary Academy-Nauvoo, Illinois. She received a B.S. in music education from University of Illinois-Champaign; an M.S. in religious studies from St. John University-Collegeville, Minnesota; and did post-graduate studies at Iowa State University and University of Iowa.
She entered the Benedictine community on Aug. 15, 1950, and made her profession as a Benedictine Sister on Aug. 22, 1952. Sister Cain’s ministry included teaching at St. Thomas More-Munster, Indiana, and St. Mary-Moline, St. Boniface-Peoria and St. John the Baptist-Clinton, all in Illinois. She served as director of religious education at St. John Vianney Parish-Bettendorf and director of adult education for the Diocese of Davenport. Sister Cain then worked with the Iowa Department of Social Services in the area of family therapy. Upon retirement, she served as archivist, along with other roles at St. Mary Monastery.
A Christian Wake Service was held June 13 and a Memorial Mass June 14, both at St. Mary Monastery. Inurnment will be later at Calvary Cemetery-Rock Island, Illinois. In accordance with Sister Cain’s wishes, her body has been donated for scientific study.
