Rita Lucille Wheelock age 92 of Cheboygan entered eternal life on March 18, 2023, from Medilodge in Cheboygan.
She was born June 4, 1930, in Pontiac to Basil and Lucille (Houck) Martus.
Upon graduation from St. Frederick High School in Pontiac in 1949, she entered the Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Monroe and graduated from Marygrove College with a degree in Education. Rita taught downstate for twenty years. She moved to Cheboygan in 1972 where she taught in Cheboygan Area Schools for fifteen years, retiring in 1987. She taught her students to crochet beautiful daisy blankets. After retirement from teaching, she was active in volunteer work at St. Mary Catholic Church, McLaren Northern Michigan and Dar’s Hallmark. She took joy in sponsoring many young children for music lessons and education. She will be remembered for her special, delicious carrot cakes, warm hugs, winning smile, innate kindness and generosity and her love of everything chocolate. Rita’s hobbies included music (piano, violin), crocheting, Sudoku and jigsaw puzzles (no looking at the box – that’s cheating!)
She is survived by her sisters, Geri Bourdeau and Pat Fugitt and several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.
In 1975, Rita married Harold Bigger, who preceded her in death in 1984. In 1994, she married Daniel Wheelock, who preceded her in death in 1996. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her twin brother, Richard Martus, sister-in-law, Joan (Bourdeau) Martus, and brothers-in-law, Fred Bourdeau and George Fugitt.
The family would like to thank the staff at Medilodge and Hospice for the kind, compassionate and respectful care Rita received during the final weeks of her life.