Rita Malin

Rita Elizabeth (Hogan) Malin of Lawrence, Kansas, and former Plainville, Kansas resident, died peacefully surrounded by her family on March 1, 2023 at Bridge Haven in Lawrence, Kansas.

Rita was born to Bill and Rita (Lindley) Hogan of Natoma, Kansas, on August 9, 1933. She grew up in Natoma and graduated from Natoma High School.

On August 22, 1951, she married Joseph Malin, the love of her life, and together they raised a family of nine children on their farm south of Plainville, Kansas. She spent her last few years near family in Lawrence, Kansas.

Rita was a lifetime member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plainville and an active member of the Sacred Heart Guild. She was a charter member of the Daughters of Isabella Circle, serving in several offices including Regent.

Rita’s deep and abiding faith kept her uplifted and she always looked at life with a positive attitude. She lived her faith and shared it with many others. For twenty-five years she taught Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) classes for Sacred Heart Parish. She also helped organize and sing with the church’s choir and guitar group.

Music was an important part of Rita’s life. She sang for many weddings and funerals and instilled a great love of music in all of her children.

Rita also loved spending hours reading to her children and grandchildren. Her belief in the importance of education and especially of reading translated into decades of serving as a reading paraprofessional at Sacred Heart Elementary where she helped many boys and girls improve their reading skills.

Rita was a wonderful friend to the elderly, dedicating her time to visiting and entertaining residents of the nursing home and visiting and assisting shut-ins.

Rita had an infectious smile and was a people person. Through her connections at church, school, friends and friends of all of her children, she seemed to know everyone in town. She knew their parents and grandparents, who they married and the names of their children. She was loved by so very many people.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Patricia Clark. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Joe, and her son, Max.

She is survived by eight children: Lori (Dennis) Davidson of Russell, Kansas; Jed Malin of Ottawa, Kansas; Lois Malin of Kansas City, Kansas; Barb (Jason) Sheffer of Baxter Springs, Kansas; Steve (Emily) Malin of Lawrence, Kansas; Mike Malin (Susan Sharp) of Prairie Village, Kansas; Dave (Karrabi) Malin of Grapevine, Texas; and Christi (J.J.) Burnam of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Rita is also survived by twenty grandchildren, Annie (Dave) Gnojek, Jenny (Nick) Maciaszek, Michael (Amy) Davidson; Emily (Jared) Dumaine, Joe (Miranda) Malin; Jake and Max Sheffer; Grace and Joy Malin; Calder, Ethan (Cassidy), Drew and Jack Malin; Octavia, Isabel and Noah Malin; Riley (Connor) Nichols, Rita, Roxie and Neko Burnam; Six great-grandchildren: Isla, Oscar and Alice Gnojek, Nora and Henry Malin, Gemma Davidson and a number of other relatives and friends.

Celebration of a Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 am on Monday, March 27, 2023, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plainville. Burial will follow at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. A vigil and rosary will be held at 7:00 pm, on Sunday, March 26th at Sacred Heart Church. A book signing will be held Sunday, March 26th from 1:00 pm-5:00 pm at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Plainville.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Sacred Heart Elementary School in Plainville or Catholic Relief Services may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd St, Plainville, KS 67663, who are in charge of arrangements.