Rita Agnes (Stanjek) Hofmann

It is with great sadness that the family announces the peaceful passing of Rita Agnes (nee Stanjek) Hofmann, 81 years of Humboldt at her residence on Saturday, May 14, 2022. 

Rita was born on April 10, 1941 to William and Gertrude (nee Viola) Stanjek at St. Gregor, SK. Her family moved to a farm near Englefeld, where she received her education. She then moved to Humboldt for work, and this is where she met the love of her life Jerome Hofmann. After an eight-month courtship they were wed on August 2, 1961 and later they moved to a farm by Muenster where they began their life together and were blessed with four children Reg, Wayne, Terri and Kurt. 

Rita was kept very busy with her children, gardening and took great pride in her flower beds.  As her children grew up, she returned to work initially at the Blue Bell Café in Muenster and then moved on to Michel’s Window Factory in St. Gregor until it closed.  She then worked at the St. Peter’s Press until retirement.

Rita was always community minded and kept busy volunteering on many committees after retiring including Meals on Wheels, folding bulletins at St.  Augustine Church and The Good Neighbor Store. She enjoyed bowling but curling was her passion. She played in various leagues throughout her life and into retirement, and especially enjoyed her annual sister’s curling bonspiel trips to various communities across Saskatchewan. In the winter, her TV was tuned to the sports channel to watch whatever tournament they were broadcasting and was a regular at the Brier when it was in Saskatoon.

She also discovered her creative side in her later years making many beautiful stepping stones and created many items with glass.

In retirement, Rita and Jerome caught a bit of the travel bug, exploring Canada and the US by car with their “travelling buddies” Anita and Harvey Schiltz. One of their favourite things to do on these trips was not planning ahead and trying to find a hotel or motel in the afternoon or evening each day. From stories that were shared, they slept in a lot of interesting places over the years.

They also went on many bus trips to casinos or the occasional music festival. They were always up for an adventure and loved having a good time.

Holidays were always a special time for Rita and insisted the family get together. Christmas was her favourite and she loved to put on a big spread of turkey and “Rita’s” dressing with all the fixings.

Family was always #1 for Rita, she was very supportive of her children’s  activities and then her grandchildren’s.  Rita often would take a number of her younger grandchildren to her place for sleepovers and had a special place in her heart for the older grandchildren. She thoroughly enjoyed these visits and time spent with them.

As her life was coming to an end, Rita received incredible care, support and compassion from her “little girlie” Sara Pierrard, her husband Craig and all the staff at Country Care Sask, especially as she passed. The family is forever in their debt.

Rita’s warm and welcoming smile will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her four children and eight grandchildren:  Reg (Sharon) of Saskatoon and children Daryl and Jenelle (Jordan); Wayne (Bridget) of Muenster and children   David and Nicole; Terri (Dean) Anderson of Saskatoon and children Sarah and Tyler; and Kurt (Brigette) of Saskatoon and children Chloe and Hunter; seven siblings: Elizabeth (Gus  Yaworski) Becker of Humboldt, Rose Merkosky of Martensville, Hilda (Alphonse) Buhs of Watson, Cecilia (Joe) Strueby of Choiceland, Evelyn (Donald) Lieffers of Saskatoon, Elenore (Reg) Schlosser of Warman and Bill (Joan) Stanjek of Perdue; members of the Hofmann family and by numerous nieces and nephews. Rita was predeceased by her husband of 57 years Jerome Hofmann (2019). 

A Celebration of Rita’s life was held on Thursday, May 19, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. at Malinoski & Danyluik Funeral Home, Hwy 5 East, Humboldt, led by Funeral Celebrant Debbie Sarauer.  Interment took place at the St. Augustine Columbarium, with her husband Jerome.  Memorial donations in memory of Rita may be directed to The Elizabeth (Box 1064, Humboldt, SK, S0K 2A0 - a taxable receipt will not be issued).