Rita Jans Kent

On March 4th, 2020 Rita Jans Kent took her place among the angels; a new star shining brightly in the sky. At peace, in mind and body, she began her final journey surrounded by love and knowing how much she was loved by family and friends. She was 96 years old. A lifelong Evanston resident, she was most proud of her large Irish family and her strong Catholic faith.

Rita was a beautiful fiery redhead, the 5th of 12 children who all attended St A’s when it was a four room schoolhouse. She was smart, kind and giving. She believed in truth and fairness. She so believed in Catholic education that she went back to work at the telephone company, after her youngest was born, to ensure that all her children could attend Catholic high school; a trailblazer in an age when many housewives didn’t work outside the home. She was caring and welcoming; she and Dad fostered a five year old for 1½ years until his mother could care for him and they were prepared to adopt him if that didn’t happen. She taught us to be non-judgmental by example. She and Dad volunteered with Meals on Wheels for many years. Through the heat of summer and cold/snow of winter, they never missed a commitment. She had a great sense of fun and spontaneity; one time, going out to buy a TV and coming home with a sailboat or deciding on a Sunday morning to pack up a breakfast to cook at Wilmette beach or a last minute picnic at Skokie lagoon in November. She and Dad played a mean game of bridge and belonged to several groups. Although they played seriously, the lesson we learned was win, lose or draw it was just a game. She was very creative; remodeling her house with many innovative designs. Her idea of redecorating was moving walls and creating doorways for “better flow”. It was literally impossible for her to walk into a rental house and not say “If this were my house I’d…”. Her angel food cakes and pumpkin pies were legendary. She loved to travel; driving around the US with Dad and traveling to Europe and Africa with her children. She enjoyed many bike trips in the US and Europe with Dad. She was a good friend to many and loved bowling and bridge with friends. She had a special group of golfing buddies with whom she traveled around the country playing different courses. She was a Girl Scout leader who taught us to “leave a place cleaner than we found it”. She challenged us to “always do your best” and really only got mad at us when she felt we weren't really trying. She was a great storyteller; repeating stories of growing up in early Evanston (living in “Frogtown”, street cars, the iceman and his horse drawn cart, having passes to the Varsity Theater for work her Dad did for the city, sliding down the Leahy toboggan slide in July (many splinters involved), picking embedded jeweled pebbles out of a neighbors stucco, walking around the second floor gutter at home, opening/repacking packages Grandma bought at Field’s downtown before she got home and many, many more) because we begged for them, over and over. She told us we could do anything we really wanted. She was always there to cheer us on. She loved every one of us equally and always made us feel safe and loved.

She and her husband, Tom, were totally devoted to each other; and he was absolutely supportive of her and her sometimes unconventional ideas. Married for 62 years; they may have had disagreements, but we never knew, because we never heard them argue. Her five children, eight grandchildren and their spouses loved to be with her; especially when she was zipping around in her convertible. She and her sisters were a force to behold (all having attended Immaculate Conception Academy high school in Davenport, IA); orchestrating the most fun, family events. She was a great planner; for 10 years, renting an entire Mom & Pop motel, so aunts, uncles and cousins could spend Christmas together on skiing adventures. Fourth of July was always a huge gathering in our extended family; just mention “daiquiri” to a family member and you’ll hear lots of stories from very young “bartenders”. They loved to party in a very lively fashion. The sisters had the magical ability of talking and listening at the same time...with 100% comprehension. With so many voices, it was a survival technique learned early. Many aunts including in-laws considered her one of their dearest friends and many cousins have said that they will always think of her as more than an aunt, but more of a friend, mentor and role model. It was a family filled with joy, fun and spirit.

She was deeply religious, attending daily Mass with Dad, reciting the rosary – sometimes several times a day, transporting an elderly friend to Mass daily, distributing Communion to those unable to receive it in church. She was a Eucharistic Minister and active in the St A’s women’s guild for many years. She was a long time hospice volunteer; visiting, reading, cooking and bringing communion to those in need. She believed in the Church as forgiveness and redemption. She loved and prayed to God, but Mary was her go to person. In her twilight, she found great comfort and peace praying her “Hail Marys”.

She lived a beautiful life with a positive spirit and embraced spending eternity with her beloved husband Thos, parents Pete and Mae, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins and all those she’d ever loved.

She believed in the grace of God and at the end of her life she was ready to surrender to Him.

She is survived by her children Patty, Thomas (Maureen), Colleen Armgardt (Michael), Timothy (Holly) and Maureen; her grandchildren Thomas, Emily, Kathleen, Amelia, Carolyn, Patrick, Robert and Kevin and their spouses; her six (and counting) great grandchildren; her sister Rosemary (Gordon) Sheahen, sister-in-law Marguerite Jans, brothers-in law Joseph Leshock, Donald Dierbeck and cousin Noreen Hartigan.

She was preceded in death by her cherished husband of 62 years, Thomas Martin Kent III, her parents Peter N Jans and Mae Burns Jans, her sisters and brothers Robert Jans, Mary Anita (John) Paul, Virginia (Paul) Frank, John (Ann) Jans, Peter (Joan) Jans, Francis Jans, Therese Leshock, Patricia (Robert) Doll, Joanne (l. David) Lewis, Carol Dierbeck and her granddaughter-in-law Kay Kent.

                Services on Saturday September 4th, 2021 will begin at 09:30 with visitation at St Athanasius Church, 1615 Lincoln Street, Evanston IL 60201 followed by a funeral Mass at 10:30 and interment immediately following at Calvary Cemetery. A celebration reception is planned to follow. Please see her website for further details:   ritakent.life

                Any memorial donations can be made to:

Meals on Wheels Northeastern Illinois

1723 Simpson St

Evanston, IL 60201

One final reflection, according to one of her nephews “Aunt Rita was a total babe”.

 Arrangements entrusted to Evanston Funeral & Cremation, Roland F. Weis director. Info 847 866-8843, condolence and guestbook at evanstonfuneral.com

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