Rita Mclaughlin

McLaughlin, Rita

Age 98, passed away on Saturday, December 13, 2025 , after a brief stay at Henry Ford Hospice Home.  The daughter of the late Gregory and Ursula (Desch) Forsthoefel, Rita was born in Dayton, Ohio on May 13, 1927. She moved with her family to Springfield, Massachusetts and then to Adrian, Michigan.  After graduating from St. Mary's High School in 1945, Rita believed she was called to be a missionary and   entered the Maryknoll Order. Shortly after, Rita was called home to care for her sick mother. Soon after her mother's recovery, Rita chose nursing as a career, receiving her training in Dayton and Toledo, Ohio.  It was during this time that she met the love of her life, William Justin McLaughlin.  Bill and Rita were married in 1949 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Adrian, bringing together a wonderful combination of Irish and German families.  Together, Bill and Rita dedicated their lives to loving one another, raising and nurturing a large family, and practicing and passing on their strong faith.  Family life began in Adrian with the arrival of the first five children from 1950 to 1955, continued to grow in Hudson with the birth of three more children between 1956 and 1963, and then continued in Jackson with the birth of two daughters in 1964 and 1965.  Bill and Rita remained in Jackson, as members of Queen of the Miraculous Medal Parish, for the remainder of their lives.  Rita worked part-time as an RN, was an avid reader, kept up on all of the news and current events, and enjoyed her long walks.  As a wife, mother, and home-maker, Rita maintained a calm, quiet, confident personality while meeting the challenges, worries, and hardships that such a large family presented.  Her maternal role carried on over the years as she continued to share her love, joy, and wisdom with two more generations, the grandchildren and great grandchildren who she dearly loved.

Rita is survived by her ten children, Tim (Janet Sortor), Tom (Shireen), John (Denise), Dan (JoAnne), Cathy (Randy) Brechtelsbauer, Brian, Pat (Debra), Mary Caldwell, Liz (Mark) Hartley, Sue (Steve) Eder, two brothers, Frank (Tina) Forsthoefel and Raymond (Christine) Forsthoefel.  She is also survived by 22 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Rita was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bill, on May 30, 2009, as well as by her parents; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Mark (Joan), Greg (Margie), and Paul (Margaret) Forsthoefel; one sister, Claire (Merrill) Amsler; son-in-law Douglas Caldwell; and Bill's brother Richard (Frances) McLaughlin and sister Frances (Arden) Muck.

The family is thankful for the excellent care provided to Rita by staff at Vista Grande Villa Trellis Gardens and Henry Ford Jackson Hospital and Hospice House.

The Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, December 29, 2025 at 11:30 a.m. at Queen of the Miraculous Medal Church with Fr. Timothy MacDonald officiating.

The family will receive friends at Queen's Church on Monday, December 29, 2025 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Queen of the Miraculous Medal Church or the charity of your choice.

Desnoyer Funeral Home
Family Owned for 135 Years